Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 7 June 2020 protesting the ongoing chaos in transportation sector as the public buses are plying on the streets with more passengers and simultaneously excessive fares are being collected from them.

On 1st June, without considering the mass sufferings, government increased fares of inter-district and long routes bus and minibuses by 60 percent, in order to compensate bus owners carrying 50 percent less passengers to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. But practically we are observing that, excess fares are being collected from the passengers. Most of the buses are plying with additional passengers as well. Because of this anarchy, in one side, the passengers are facing financial loss, while on the other, risks of coronavirus contagion have been increased. In some cases, double fares are being taken forcibly from the passengers. In addition, the buses are not complying the condition of social distancing as they are moving with overloaded passengers. Bus staffs are not using hand sanitizers as well.

Bangladesh Road Transportation Authority (BRTA) has not taken any effective measures against these irregularities so far. Their passive roles paved the way for the passengers to face financial losses and health risks. If the situation continues, the corona pandemic situation may turn into worse in the country.

Under the circumstances, I am urging the concerned authority for taking strict measures to stop the collection of excessive fares from the passengers and also to ensure health safety management in the transportation sector immediately.”