Special rickshaws flout fare chart with impunity

Almost all modes of public transport have been banned in the capital’s Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, over security reasons.

Special rickshaws painted in black and yellow were instead introduced in Gulshan and Banani areas from August 10. The initiative was taken as police banned bus services in the areas following the Holey Artisan Bakery attack on July 1. The special rickshaw service is being supervised by Gulshan Society, Banani Society and Baridhara Society.
Mofizur Rahman, councillor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Ward No. 19, said though the number of rickshaw-drivers appears to be insufficient, to ensure security in the area it was decided to increase the number of rickshaws here.
Almost 8,000 rickshaws were plying in this zone. Currently, 400 special rickshaws are permitted to ply in the areas.
The DNCC has issued ID cards and fixed a dress code for the rickshaw-drivers. It has also put fare charts on the backs of the rickshaws. However, no rickshaw-driver is allegedly following the chart.
Refayet Islam, who works in a private firm, alleged that rickshaw drivers had been charging an additional Tk. 5 to Tk. 10 from each passenger, flouting the fare chart, especially during office hours.
“I have to haggle with rickshaw-drivers everyday even though there is a rate chart,” Humayra Jannat, a resident of Gulshan-1, told The Independent.
Mofizur Rahman also said, “If any rickshaw-driver charges more than the fare chart and if the passenger lodges a complaint with the society (under which the rickshaw is plying), the society will take action and may cancel the driver’s permission to run the rickshaw.”
Asked why many rickshaw-drivers are not following the dress code or carrying ID cards, he said, “The DNCC will provide dresses and ID cards to all the rickshaw-drivers by this month. No rickshaw-driver can operate in this area without the uniform and ID cards.”
Shahid, a rickshaw driver, said: “I earn on an average Tk. 500. After paying the rent to the rickshaw owner, I hardly have anything left.” Shaon, another rickshaw driver, said, “I give Tk. 130 for half a day or Tk. 200 for the whole day as rent to the rickshaw-owner. The fare chart must be reviewed.”
The councillor, however, said: “The fare chart is all right.”

Special rickshaws flout fare chart with impunity

Almost all modes of public transport have been banned in the capitals Gulshan area, a diplomatic zone, over security reasons. Special rickshaws painted in black and yellow were instead introduced in Gulshan and Banani areas from August 10. The initiative was taken as police banned bus services in the areas following the Holey Artisan Bakery attack on July 1. The special rickshaw service is being supervised by Gulshan Society, Banani Society and Baridhara Society. Mofizur Rahman, councillor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Ward No. 19, said though the number of rickshaw-drivers appears to be insufficient, to ensure security in the area it was decided to increase the number of rickshaws here. Almost 8,000 rickshaws were plying in this zone. Currently, 400 special rickshaws are permitted to ply in the areas. The DNCC has issued ID cards and fixed a dress code for the rickshaw-drivers. It has also put fare charts on the backs of the rickshaws. However, no rickshaw-driver is allegedly following the chart. Refayet Islam, who works in a private firm, alleged that rickshaw drivers had been charging an additional Tk. 5 to Tk. 10 from each passenger, flouting the fare chart, especially during office hours. I have to haggle with rickshaw-drivers everyday even though there is a rate chart, Humayra Jannat, a resident of Gulshan-1, told The Independent. Mofizur Rahman also said, If any rickshaw-driver charges more than the fare chart and if the passenger lodges a complaint with the society (under which the rickshaw is plying), the society will take action and may cancel the drivers permission to run the rickshaw. Asked why many rickshaw-drivers are not following the dress code or carrying ID cards, he said, The DNCC will provide dresses and ID cards to all the rickshaw-drivers by this month. No rickshaw-driver can operate in this area without the uniform and ID cards. Shahid, a rickshaw driver, said: I earn on an average Tk. 500. After paying the rent to the rickshaw owner, I hardly have anything left. Shaon, another rickshaw driver, said, I give Tk. 130 for half a day or Tk. 200 for the whole day as rent to the rickshaw-owner. The fare chart must be reviewed. The councillor, however, said: The fare chart is all right.