A powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport. Jatri Kalyan Samity demands end to overcharging, harassment during Eid travel Eid Travel Rush and Fare Anarchy Between 20 March and 31 March, approximately 22.74 crore passenger trips will take place in Dhaka, driven by Eid shopping and travel to home districts. Of these, 1.5 crore people will leave Dhaka for their hometowns. Despite government efforts to regulate fares, 98% of public transport operators are charging excessive amounts, the report states. Fare hikes are primarily attributed to inflation, extortion, employee Eid bonuses, and owners’ profit motives. Besides, the absence of passenger representatives in monitoring teams has made oversight ineffective. Jatri Kalyan Samiti demands ban on unfit vehicles during Eid travel Breakdown of Extra Fare Collection Road Transport ·         Long-distance buses and minibuses: Tk 90 crore extra from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per passenger). ·         City buses: Tk 12 crore from 40 lakh trips (Tk 30 per passenger). ·         CNG auto-rickshaws: Tk 60 crore from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per trip). ·         Battery-powered and pedal rickshaws: Tk 160 crore from 8 crore trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Leguna, Duranta, Diganta (human hauliers): Tk 16 crore from 80 lakh trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Ride-sharing motorcycles: Tk 250 crore from 2.5 crore trips (Tk 100 per trip). ·         Private cars, jeeps, microbuses: Tk 21 crore from 20,000 trips (Tk 3,500 per trip). Water Transport ·         Launches and boats: Tk 80 crore extra from 40 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per passenger). ·         Ferries and river crossings: Tk 100 crore from 10 crore trips (Tk 10 per passenger). Rail Transport ·         Train roof passengers: Tk 80 lakh from 80,000 passengers (Tk 100 bribe per passenger). ·         Passengers without tickets: Tk 7.5 crore from 2.5 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per bribe). Air Transport Domestic flights: Tk 35 crore from 1 lakh passengers (Tk 3,500 per passenger). Call for Reforms The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity emphasised that the fare hikes are exacerbating the cost of living, encouraging corruption, and increasing road accidents. To curb these issues, it urged authorities to introduce digital fare collection, ban cash transactions, use CCTV for fare monitoring, and improve transport governance. 475 dead from 452 road accidents in October: Jatri Kalyan Samity Press Conference Attendees Present at the press conference were newly elected Chairman Dr Mohammad Zakaria, former Election Commission Secretary Syed Ahmad, former Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Mohammad Alauddin Masud.

Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Wednesday urged the law enforcement agencies and other authorities concerned to cooperate with the media people in discharging their professional duties during the strict lockdown set to be enforced from Thursday. In a statement, DRU president Mursalin Nomani and general secretary Mosiur Rahman Khan also urged the media workers to carry their press cards while performing their duties. They said the government is going to impose tough restrictions across the country from July 1 to prevent the upsurge of coronavirus infections. The DRU leaders said the government in its notification issued on Wednesday listed mass media as ‘emergency services’ during the restrictions. Also read: Violation of lockdown rules to invite legal action, warns DMP “However, in the context of past experience, it can be seen that media workers in different parts of the country, including Dhaka, have been subjected to various forms of harassment while performing their professional duties (during such restrictions,” the statement said. Under the circumstances, the DRU leaders called upon the law enforcement agencies and the authorities concerned to cooperate and play a responsible role so that the journalists and employees of newspapers, television and news portals are not subjected to any kind of harassment. They also requested the media workers help the members of the law enforcement agencies carry out their professional duties. Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam told reporters that the journalists have been asked to cover their assignments after hanging their ID cards and they can move in the city to perform their duties during the seven-day tough lockdown. Also read: Govt outlines restriction rules ahead of ‘tough’ lockdown “Police won’t obstruct them. They can also use vehicles provided by their respective offices,” he added. The government is all set to enforce a weeklong countrywide strict lowdown from Thursday in a bid to control the growing Covid infections. All public movement, except emergency services, will be restricted during the lockdown by deploying the members and army and other law enforcement agencies.

BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Friday said their party chairperson Khaleda Zia will never be freed from jail without the good will of the government as the judiciary is now not ‘independent’.

Chief coordinator of the BNP-led 20-party alliance Nazrul Islam Khan on Sunday said they want to get Khaleda Zia freed by any means.