Khulna bus terminal in sorry state

The Khulna (Sonadanga) central bus terminal has been is beset with a host of problems since long due to lack of care and maintenance. The problems confronting the bus terminal include deplorable condition of the building, lack of passengers’ safety, absence of hygienic waiting rooms, good privies and safe drinking water. According to sources, the divisional bus terminal was constructed in Sonadanga area under Khulna city about 19 years ago. The ticket counters were also opened but without mentioning of which places tickets are available.   It causes inconvenience to the passengers when they go to Sonadanga bus terminal to buy tickets. There are only two waiting rooms for the passengers, but those are dirty.  Stink comes out from the privies for which nobody can stay there for a moment. Besides, the waiting rooms are ill equipped with old and worn-out furniture, which are also insufficient. The sanitary arrangements are not satisfactory.
The conditions of the lavatories attached to the buildings are beyond description. The bus terminal authorities do not feel it necessary to improve the condition of the station for meeting the need of increasing number of passengers.  The disadvantages confronting the passengers include lack of good toilets, particularly for ladies. The floors of waiting rooms and front of the booking offices remain littered with peels of fruit and vegetables, husk of peanut, filth and other materials. The place is home to vagabond boys and girls, drug addicts looking for their next hit, sex workers seeking clients and criminals teasing women in sight. Besides, the terminal remains  overcrowded with floating shops and vendor boxes giving trouble to the passengers waiting for busses.  Despite the fact that police know about them, the security persons are yet to take any action.   There is no arrangement for safe drinking water for the passengers.
Passengers have to buy bottles of mineral water from vendors because the only hand tube well at the bus terminal most often remains out of order. Shop owners and regular travelers said not many genuine passengers frequent the waiting room. “Normally no passenger wants to stay even a moment in the room. Some influential leaders of political party workers use the room even bully passengers if they (passengers) raise their voice against the ill-maintained terminals,” alleged Bimanesh Chandra Dhali, who runs his vehicle on the Khulna-Satkhira route.
The buildings of the terminal are in deplorable condition. The bus owners took rooms from Khulna Development Authority (KDA) for using as booking offices.  But most the time the rooms remain unused.  Criminals in collusion with a section of dishonest bus employees are pilfering doors and windows and other materials from these rooms regularly, it is alleged. At night, the terminal turns into a haven of miscreants while mugging and snatching are common sights at the station.
While complaining of the incidents at the terminal at night, the passengers also allege that the petrol police always play the role of onlookers. Even the passengers traveling the terminal always feel insecure because of pick-pockets, ‘Malom’ parties and ‘Tana’ parties. The district administration and the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) have not taken up any project to this end.  When contacted, Anisur Rahman Biswas, mayor (acting) of KCC admitted the problems and said, “We will take necessary steps for establishing a modern bus terminal in association with KDA in the town within a short time.” Convener of Khulna Nagorik Samaj Advocate AFM Mohsin has sought immediate government intervention to renovate Khulna bus terminal for mitigating sufferings of passengers.

Khulna bus terminal in sorry state

The Khulna (Sonadanga) central bus terminal has been is beset with a host of problems since long due to lack of care and maintenance. The problems confronting the bus terminal include deplorable condition of the building, lack of passengers safety, absence of hygienic waiting rooms, good privies and safe drinking water. According to sources, the divisional bus terminal was constructed in Sonadanga area under Khulna city about 19 years ago. The ticket counters were also opened but without mentioning of which places tickets are available. It causes inconvenience to the passengers when they go to Sonadanga bus terminal to buy tickets. There are only two waiting rooms for the passengers, but those are dirty. Stink comes out from the privies for which nobody can stay there for a moment. Besides, the waiting rooms are ill equipped with old and worn-out furniture, which are also insufficient. The sanitary arrangements are not satisfactory. The conditions of the lavatories attached to the buildings are beyond description. The bus terminal authorities do not feel it necessary to improve the condition of the station for meeting the need of increasing number of passengers. The disadvantages confronting the passengers include lack of good toilets, particularly for ladies. The floors of waiting rooms and front of the booking offices remain littered with peels of fruit and vegetables, husk of peanut, filth and other materials. The place is home to vagabond boys and girls, drug addicts looking for their next hit, sex workers seeking clients and criminals teasing women in sight. Besides, the terminal remains overcrowded with floating shops and vendor boxes giving trouble to the passengers waiting for busses. Despite the fact that police know about them, the security persons are yet to take any action. There is no arrangement for safe drinking water for the passengers. Passengers have to buy bottles of mineral water from vendors because the only hand tube well at the bus terminal most often remains out of order. Shop owners and regular travelers said not many genuine passengers frequent the waiting room. Normally no passenger wants to stay even a moment in the room. Some influential leaders of political party workers use the room even bully passengers if they (passengers) raise their voice against the ill-maintained terminals, alleged Bimanesh Chandra Dhali, who runs his vehicle on the Khulna-Satkhira route. The buildings of the terminal are in deplorable condition. The bus owners took rooms from Khulna Development Authority (KDA) for using as booking offices. But most the time the rooms remain unused. Criminals in collusion with a section of dishonest bus employees are pilfering doors and windows and other materials from these rooms regularly, it is alleged. At night, the terminal turns into a haven of miscreants while mugging and snatching are common sights at the station. While complaining of the incidents at the terminal at night, the passengers also allege that the petrol police always play the role of onlookers. Even the passengers traveling the terminal always feel insecure because of pick-pockets, Malom parties and Tana parties. The district administration and the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) have not taken up any project to this end. When contacted, Anisur Rahman Biswas, mayor (acting) of KCC admitted the problems and said, We will take necessary steps for establishing a modern bus terminal in association with KDA in the town within a short time. Convener of Khulna Nagorik Samaj Advocate AFM Mohsin has sought immediate government intervention to renovate Khulna bus terminal for mitigating sufferings of passengers.