The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded an end to excessive fares and passenger harassment on buses, minibuses, tempos and human haulers operating in Chattogram.
CAB’s Chattogram city and divisional units and Youth CAB Chattogram organised a protest rally and sit-in at Bahaddarhat intersection today, according to a press release.
CAB members, students, journalists, professionals and concerned citizens from different walks of life participated in the programme.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, CAB Central Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain said the prolonged practice of charging passengers above government-fixed fares on various routes in Chattogram, often citing fuel and gas shortages, was unacceptable.
“If fuel prices or operating costs rise, fares must be revised through the relevant authorities and in accordance with established procedures. Transport owners and workers cannot hold passengers hostage and collect arbitrary fares after official rates have been fixed. Such practices constitute a violation of consumer rights,” he said.
Nazer Hossain said working people, students and low-income groups depended heavily on public transport for their daily commute, and excessive fares further increased their cost of living.
He also demanded an end to dropping passengers off before reaching their destinations and treating them discourteously.
“Occasional drives alone will not restore discipline in the public transport sector. Regular monitoring and effective accountability must be ensured,” he said.
He called for government-fixed fare charts to be displayed prominently in public transport and for an effective mechanism to receive complaints about excessive fares and take prompt action.
Nazer Hossain also demanded the introduction of half fares for students in Chattogram, similar to Dhaka. He urged transport owners, workers, the administration and civil society to work together to ensure safe, affordable and harassment-free travel for passengers.
He further called for the modernisation of Chattogram’s public transport system and the introduction of more Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses in the city.
Other speakers said transport operators had no right to charge double or arbitrary fares by citing higher fuel prices, operating expenses or other reasons.
They said excessive fares placed an additional burden on passengers, particularly students, low-income people and regular public transport users.
The speakers alleged that passengers were often charged excessive fares, dropped off before reaching their destinations and subjected to discourteous behaviour. They urged the authorities to conduct effective and regular monitoring to stop such irregularities.
They also demanded the enforcement of government-fixed fares, an end to excessive charges, half fares for students, and safe and harassment-free public transport services.
“Public transport cannot be operated according to the wishes of any particular individual or group. Transparency and accountability in fare determination and enforcement must be ensured to protect passengers’ rights,” the speakers said.
Youth CAB Chattogram City President Abu Hanif Noman conducted the programme.
Among others, social worker and CAB member Mitul Das Gupta, CAB Chattogram City Joint Secretary Mohammad Selim Jahangir, CAB Chandgaon Police Station unit President Mohammad Jane Alam, General Secretary Ismail Faruki, Policy Advocacy Group Joint General Secretary Saidur Rahman Mitu, Dainik Purbodesh Staff Reporter Lion Osman Sarwar, CAB Sadarghat representative Mostafa, CAB West Sholoshahar representative SM Abdul Awal, CAB member Master Mohammad Yusuf, and Youth CAB Chattogram members Raisul Islam, Raihan Uddin, Md Parvez, Sidratul Muntaha and Md Mamunul Islam attended the programme.
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