Bus counters at terminals in the capital will be required to display fare charts ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr, said DMP commissioner Md Sarwar, warning that action will be taken against buses operating without proper fitness.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner made the remarks on Saturday while speaking at a meeting with bus owners and workers at Gabtoli Bus Terminal.
Sarwar said mobile courts would take action against unfit or poorly maintained buses operating on the roads to prevent passenger harassment during the Eid travel rush.
To ensure smooth travel, additional police, detective branch, SWAT and traffic personnel will be deployed at bus terminals and across the metropolitan area. Help desks will also be set up at terminals to assist passengers, he added.
The DMP commissioner said regular security drives would be conducted at different terminals. To ease traffic congestion, the movement of trucks, lorries and covered vans will remain suspended for several days before and after Eid.
Authorities will also closely monitor transport services to prevent overcharging and ticket black-marketing, he said, adding that strict action will be taken against those found involved in such practices.
Sarwar urged transport operators to keep more than one driver on long-distance buses and avoid carrying passengers on bus rooftops.
A seven-day government holiday will begin on 17 March for Eid, and the commissioner expressed hope that the extended break would help ensure a smoother journey for travellers.
He also requested that garment factories grant leave to workers in phases rather than all at once to reduce pressure on transport services.
Meanwhile, DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Anisur Rahman warned that any vehicle charging fares higher than those listed by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority could face cancellation of its route permit.
At the meeting, transport leaders also pledged cooperation.
Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, coordinator of the Bus Owners and Workers Unity Council, said bus owners and workers were working together to reduce passenger suffering during the Eid travel rush.
