Titas Chakrobarty, Khulna Correspondent
Despite the increase in fare due to rising fuel prices, the quality of passenger service remains the same. More than 50 unsuitable buses are plying on the internal route from Sonadanga bus terminal of Khulna. These buses are carrying several times more passengers than their carrying capacity. Md Anwar Hossain Sona, joint secretary of Khulna Bus, Minibus, Coach and Microbus Owners Association, said that all these problems will be solved soon.

From Sonadanga Bus Terminal and Royal Junction area of the city, buses run on 18 long distance routes including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Rangpur, Jashore. Buses run on the internal route from Sonadanga Bus Terminal to Paikgachha and Paikgachha Bus Stand to Koira. The number of buses is 475 to 500. This information has been obtained from the sources of Khulna Motor Workers Union. Before the increase in the price of fuel oil, the rent was charged at the rate of BDT 1.42 per kilometer. Now the fare per kilometer has increased to BDT 1.80.

According to the bus drivers, the buses running on the internal route usually comprise 26, 29 or 37 seats. However, most of them are being converted to 41 seat buses. At least 15-20 buses are in a dilapidated condition. The coating of paint has gone up from the vehicles. Some have broken windows and doors. The seats are dirty. More passengers are crammed in the buses from 9 am to 12 noon.

According to sources, the fare from Sonadanga to Paikgachha bus stand has been increased from BDT 97 to 110. The fare from Pikegachha to Koira now hiked to BDT 65. The fare on Sonadanga to Satkhira route was BDT 80 but it now increased to BDT 108. There are 270 buses plying on these three routes. On the other hand, 30-35 buses run from Sonadanga to Jashore route. Rents have risen at the same rate. The fare from Paikgachha Bus Stand to Dhaka has been increased at the rate of BDT 150 per person.

Scores of people travel by bus every day from Chalna Boomar Banshtala area of Dakop upazila to Gallamari area of the city. Limited passenger capacity per vehicle became the norm during the Covid 19’s lockdown period. Owing to this, last year the rent was increased from BDT 40 per person to 60.