Chattogram Bureau: The Consumers Association of Bangladesh, CAB, held a protest rally and sit-in programme at Bahaddarhat intersection in Chittagong on Thursday demanding an immediate end to the collection of excess fares and harassment of passengers in public transport.

The programme was organised jointly by CAB Chittagong City and Divisional Committee and Jubo CAB Chittagong. Members of CAB, students, journalists, professionals and conscious citizens from different walks of life took part.

Addressing the gathering as chief guest, CAB Central Vice President SM Nazer Hossain said collecting extra fares from passengers in the name of fuel and gas shortages is unacceptable. He said if there is any increase in fuel price or operational cost, fare should be revised formally through the concerned authorities. But after a fare is fixed, transport owners and workers cannot arbitrarily charge passengers extra money.

“Every day working people, students and low-income citizens depend on public transport. Charging them extra fare only increases their cost of living,” he said. He also condemned the practice of dropping passengers midway and misbehaving with them.

Mr Hossain stressed that discipline in the public transport sector cannot be ensured only through occasional drives. Regular monitoring and accountability are needed. He suggested that approved fares should be displayed visibly inside vehicles, and there should be an effective mechanism to receive complaints and take quick action against overcharging.

He also demanded the introduction of half-fare for students in Chittagong, like in Dhaka, and called for coordinated efforts by transport owners, workers, the administration and civil society to ensure safe, affordable and harassment-free travel. He further urged the authorities to modernise Chittagong’s public transport and to bring more BRTC buses to the city.

Other speakers said there is no scope to charge double or excess fare from passengers citing fuel prices or other reasons. They said the burden falls hardest on students, low-income people and regular commuters. They alleged that in many cases buses and tempos do not go to the fixed destinations and passengers are forced to get off midway.

Speakers at the sit-in said public transport cannot be run according to the wishes of any individual or group. Transparency and accountability in fare fixation and implementation are essential to protect passenger rights.

The programme was moderated by Abu Hanif Noman, President of Jubo CAB Chittagong Metropolitan. Among others, social worker and CAB member Mitul Das Gupta, Joint Secretary of CAB Chittagong Metropolitan Mohammad Selim Jahangir, President of CAB Chandgaon Thana Mohammad Jane Alam, General Secretary Ismail Faruki, Joint General Secretary of Policy Advocacy Group Saidur Rahman Mitu, Staff Reporter of Daily Purvadesh Lion Osman Sarwar, and several CAB and Jubo CAB members were present.

The demonstrators urged the authorities to enforce the fixed fare, stop excess fare collection, introduce half-fare for students and ensure safe and hassle-free public transport for all.