The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association has pledged to make the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr journeys smooth, safe, and free from extortion. The announcement was made by the association’s Secretary General, Saiful Alam, on Monday, at an exchange of views meeting at the capital’s Sayedabad Inter-District Bus Terminal.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association organised the meeting with transport owners and workers at the Sayedabad Terminal. Transport owners, drivers, and their assistants operating routes to various districts in the Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal divisions participated in the meeting.
At the meeting, Saiful Alam outlined several steps to ensure the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr journeys are hassle-free, safe, and extortion-free. He stated that the association is determined to ensure smooth Eid journeys. To this end, the owners’ association has taken several measures.
These include stopping passenger harassment during the Eid journey. It will be ensured that no transport carries passengers beyond its designated capacity. No bus without fitness will be allowed on the roads. Vehicles will not be permitted to exceed the speed limit on highways.
Saiful Alam stated that the same driver cannot drive without a break. He noted that during the Eid season, many drivers drive continuously to earn more money, leading to road accidents. Drivers must take adequate rest before driving.
Stating that the current government is determined to stop extortion on the roads, the secretary general of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association said that no extortion will be allowed on transports during Eid. It will be ensured that drivers can drive peacefully.
Furthermore, to ensure passengers can have a safe Eid journey, ‘Passenger Help Desks’ will be set up at bus terminals in Dhaka. Passengers can lodge their complaints at these help desks.
The exchange meeting was attended by Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP from the Pabna-5 constituency and Chief Coordinator of the Nationalist Workers’ Party, as the chief guest. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Sarwar, Convener of the Sayedabad Inter-District and City Bus Terminal Owners’ Association and BNP leader Nabi Ullah Nabi, and others were also present.
