Pink-colored buses are set to start operating on the streets of Dhaka. According to Md. Saiful Alam, General Secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, 21 companies will operate buses from Abdullahpur to various destinations in the capital based on ticket counters.
He shared this information at a press conference held on Tuesday, February 4, in the capital’s Paribagh, to announce the new ticket-counter-based bus operations from Abdullahpur to Dhaka city.
Saiful Alam stated that starting February 6, buses from 21 companies will run through Abdullahpur to Dhaka city based on ticket counters. Approximately 2,610 buses will operate on this route, and passengers will board after purchasing tickets at the counters. All buses will be of the same color (pink).
He further mentioned that by the end of this month, buses operating in Mirpur, Gabtoli, and Mohammadpur will also follow the ticket-counter system.
Saiful Alam noted that for the past 16 years, buses and minibuses in Dhaka had been driven by contract drivers, violating regulations. This led to unhealthy competition, passengers boarding and alighting randomly, and severe traffic congestion, disorder, and accidents due to passengers boarding and alighting outside designated stops.
He added that a meeting was held on December 19 last year, under the chairmanship of an advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, to strengthen discipline in the road transport sector, reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka, and control air pollution. It was decided in the meeting that vehicle owners would not sign trip-based contracts with drivers but instead sign fortnightly and monthly contracts.
He explained that, to implement this decision, the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association has initially decided to run the buses of 21 transport companies, operating through Abdullahpur, based on a ticket-counter system.
Saiful Alam emphasized that buses must now operate under the counter system, and passengers must collect tickets from designated counters before boarding. Buses will not stop at unauthorized locations or pick up passengers outside designated stops. Training is being provided to the concerned authorities, and passengers are requested to cooperate.
Liberty News’ national correspondent reports that the press conference was also attended by Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association President MA Baten, Treasurer ASM Ahmed Khokon, and Office Secretary Kazi Md. Jobayer Masud.
LND/SAKIB
