Dhaka:City buses in Dhaka are not ensuring the safety and comfort of women, children, persons with disabilities, and older people, with numerous violations of reserved-seat regulations, a lack of helpers, and unsafe boarding and alighting practices.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) and the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) made these observations after inspecting more than 50 buses operating on various routes in the capital during September.
The findings, disclosed in a joint press release by the two organizations, revealed that none of the inspected buses adhered to government directives requiring nine seats to be reserved for women, children, persons with disabilities, freedom fighters, and older people. Notices about this directive were rarely displayed, and reserved seats were often occupied by men, forcing vulnerable passengers to stand.
Furthermore, the inspection noted that approximately 80 percent of the buses lacked helpers to assist with passenger management and operational tasks. Drivers typically rent buses from owners on a daily basis, hiring conductors to run the services and sharing remaining earnings after paying the rental. To reduce costs, drivers and conductors often avoid employing helpers.
The findings also highlighted unsafe practices, with conductors stopping buses at both designated and unauthorized locations, leading to hurried boarding and alighting, and resulting in minor accidents almost daily.
To address these issues, the NCPSRR and SCRF recommended ensuring nine reserved seats on every city bus, appointing a helper on each bus, ending daily rental arrangements, and strictly preventing buses from stopping between designated stops. They also advised against allowing passengers to board or alight at unauthorized locations.
Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of NCPSRR, emphasized that local buses are operating with little regard for regulations, with owners prioritizing profits over passenger safety. He called for immediate action, including deploying mobile courts to enforce transport regulations.
Lion Mohd Jahangir Alam, general secretary of SCRF, described the findings as indicative of the ongoing disorder in Dhaka's public transport system. He stressed the need to draw government attention to these issues through continued monitoring efforts throughout the year.