New Buses to BRTC from India
BRTC long-haul AC buses to operate 'temporarily'
Political interests allegedly dictate routes
Munima Sultana
The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) has begun a new service by introducing air conditioned buses for long-route passengers ahead of the Eid holidays.
But it has been alleged that political influence and the choice the individuals at the ministry concerned have played a role in making the route plan of the air conditioned (AC) bus service.
Officials said all the 88 AC buses imported from India recently would be running between major cities and towns in the county on mostly daily basis to facilitate long-route passengers.
They said the 40-passenger-capacity buses have been sent to different depots in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Comilla, Khulna, Barisal, Bogra, Pabna and Rajshahi to start service.
"Some AC buses, including those on Dhaka-Chittagong route, have already started the Eid service from Sunday night, but it will take one more day to start full- fledged service throughout the country," said an official preferring not to be named.
Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Monday saw off the passengers bound for Tungipara from Fulbaria BRTC terminal.
The communications ministry imported the 88 AC buses from Ashok Leyland of India under the US$ 1.0 billion line of credit in June. Though these buses were ordered with facilities for long-route passengers having luggage compartments, folding seats, wider leg spaces etc, the minister instructed BRTC to run them 'temporarily' in the city during the month of Ramadan.
BRTC officials said they have initially chalked out a route plan based on the demand made by managers of different depots in their respective areas. However, allegations have it that some routes were changed and dropped upon pressure from different quarters, including the Communications Minister himself, to serve people in their own electoral areas.
They said BRTC had almost been in the dark about the route planning until Thursday. The FE correspondent also found 'strong lobbying' by different quarters at the ministry to take one or two buses to their respective areas.
The allegation, however, was refuted by the high officials of the communications ministry including the Road Division Secretary.
Secretary M A N Siddique said the route plan had been formulated considering the demand and priority of people and after consultation with the BRTC chairman.
But a source said the routes to and from Noakhali and Tungipara and different directions were made according to 'references'.
Though the BRTC chairman could not be contacted for his comment in this regard, an official said the AC bus routes have been fixed on a 'temporary basis' as part of the BRTC Eid service and "there are scopes for revision".
"The AC bus routes will be finalised after assessing profits and demand of passengers later on," he added
Due to space constraints, BRTC is providing AC bus services on 50 different routes from different depots and terminals including Gabtoli, Motjheel, Narayanganj, Fulbaria and Kalyanpur.
The officials said from Dhaka the buses would cover almost all district towns and tourist spots including Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Sylhet. Some new routes have also been chosen to include major cities and tourism spots. The routes are Sylhet-Rangamati, Sylhet-Cox's Bazar, Sunamganj-Sylhet-Cox's Bazar etc.
The AC bus service also includes Dinajpur, Narail, Kushtia, Mymensingh, Habiganj, Srimongol-Moulvibazar and Biyanibazar, Sherpur, Jessore, Satkhira and Rangpur.
Source: Financial Express