Most drivers unwilling to go to desired destinations

Most of the drivers of CNG-run auto-rickshaws in the capital refuse to go to desired destinations of passengers, although as per rule the vehicles are bound to take passengers wherever they want to go, according to a report of Bangladesh Passengers' Welfare Association.      

Moreover, owners of the vehicles charge the drivers more than the government set rate of Tk 900 daily, it added.

The association prepared the report after interviewing 225 drivers and 247 passengers at different spots in the capital, including Motijheel, Jatrabari, Uttara, Mirpur, Kamalapur and Sadarghat on Sunday and Monday.

About 92 percent of the passengers said CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers refused to take them where they wanted to go.

Debashis Nag, executive magistrate of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), said drivers are supposed to take passengers wherever they wanted to go and charge as per the metre.

Although the government made it mandatory for the vehicles to charge passengers on metre-basis fare, 10 auto-rickshaws were found without metres, the report claimed.

Talking to The Daily Star, Hanif Khokon, convener of Dhaka Mohanagar CNG-Auto Rickshaw Malik Sramik Oikya Parishad, said they are maintaining strict vigilance so that owners and drivers of the vehicles follow the rules.

Debashis Nag said they have been launching mobile court drives against rule-breakers.