Complaints of stop-and-go traffic jams, extra fare collection in Chandra

Eid ul Azha is just a few days away. The working people of the industrial city Gazipur and the surrounding districts of Dhaka have started heading home to celebrate Eid with their families. Due to the pressure of excess passengers on the highway, vehicles are running stop-and-go on the Dhaka-Tangail highway and surrounding areas. Passengers complain that the transporters are collecting extra fare from them.

Meanwhile, due to increased fare pressure and shortage of vehicles, many commuters are risking their lives to travel on the roofs of pickup vans, open-top trucks and buses. District, Highway and Gazipur Metropolitan police are working to maintain law and order on highways. The policemen said that they are working to ensure smooth Eid journey of the passengers.

A passenger named Alhaj said, 'They are taking 600 for a fare of 300 tala. There is no one to watch. It's going on like the police don't even see it. Due to the pressure of passengers, the transporters are charging extra fares. Everyone is going to pay more rent without finding a way.'

Firoz Hossain of Naogaon said, 'Factory holiday today. Got 10 days off. I am going to the village to celebrate Eid with my family. A lot of passenger pressure, many people are going to the truck. Bus and truck fares are almost the same.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naojor Highway Police Station. Shahadat Hossain said, 'The pressure of vehicles on the highway has increased a lot. Congestion at some places due to excess passengers and rain. Additional policemen are deployed on the highway. Immediate action will be taken if there is a complaint that the transporters are charging extra fare.