ZCZC
BSS-24
STUDENT MOVEMENT-SUFFERINGS
Suspension of transport operation mounts public sufferings
DHAKA, Aug 5, 2018 (BSS)- The city dwellers are going through untold
sufferings due to the suspension of transport operations on long-route and in
the city for the third consecutive day today following student movement for
safe roads.
The suspension of transport services by the operators also causing impact
on the supply chain leading to the slight price hike of essentials and other
commodities in the city markets and kitchen markets.
Bus owners on Friday stopped operating long-route buses in different
districts protesting ‘vandalism’ and sensing insecurity during the ongoing
demonstrations of students demanding justice for their two fellows who were
killed in a road crash in the capital.
According to police officials, no long-distance or inter district bus left
or entered Dhaka through Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Saidabad bus terminals.
Many people were seen moving on foot and some taking rickshaws, CNG-run
auto-rickshaws even riding on pick-up vans to reach their destinations.
Office-goer failed to some extent to reach their destinations due to the
acute shortage of public transports as the state-run BRTC was seen continuing
their operation in different routes of the city with their single-decker and
double-decker buses bringing some relief to the commuters.
Many passengers alleged that drivers of other mode of vehicles, including
rickshaw and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were seen charging extra fare amid the
crisis.
Even the mobile-apps based transport services like Pathao and Uber were
also not very available throughout the city and many found it very difficult
to avail such services due to the slow mobile internet data since yesterday
evening.
Talking to the BSS, Kamal Ahmed Chowdhury, a public service holder working
in the capital, said he had to suffer a lot while returning to the capital
from his village home in Feni through train yesterday night as bus was not at
all available.
“I had to come to Dhaka last night for urgent official purpose and had to
avail the overcrowded train since there was no other mode of transport,” he
added.
Talking to the national news agency, Morshedul Islam, a trader in the
Kawran Bazar’s kitchen market said the price of essentials is slightly on the
rise as there were disruptions in the supply chain due to the mere transport
operations.
Another official at the DMPs traffic department said that they are
controlling traffic on roads as traffic week has begun today. “Although the
number of inter-city buses was very few, but there are private cars, micro
buses, CNGs and other vehicles plying on the roads,” he said.
Amid the growing student movement over a nine-point demand, Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia Yesterday announced to
observe Traffic Week across the country from Sunday to reinforce discipline
on roads and highways.
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