95 buses fined for charging extra fare in Manikganj

Mobile courts, in a two-day drive fined a total of 95 buses, plying on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, and jailed two drivers for charging extra fare from Dhaka-bound passengers.

District administration authorities said five mobile courts–assisted by the police, Ansar, and VDP members–conducted separate drives in Manikganj on Friday, and Saturday. During the drives, 95 vehicles were fined with a total of Tk 2,34,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act 2009, and Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1983.

Executive Magistrate Sheikh Md Alaol Islam said his team operated a mobile court in different places of the Dhaka-Aricha Highway from Saturday morning to the afternoon. 

While talking to the bus passengers at Paturia ferry terminal, this correspondent found them fraught with trouble due to high fare demands. Dhaka bound passengers Abdullah Al Mamun, Shahadat Hossain, and Babul Hossain said transport workers were demanding a fare of around Tk300, which is not more than Tk 90 in regular times.