Special bus, rickshaw services in Gulshan, Banani from tomorrow

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will run air-conditioned (AC) buses and special rickshaws in Gulshan and Banani areas of Dhaka from tomorrow.

“Initially, around a dozen AC buses and around 500 rickshaws will run in the areas,” said DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq.

Private operators under the coordination of DNCC will operate the services and the number of the vehicles will be increased if necessary, the mayor also said.

Of the buses, some will be operated from Natunbazar to Kakoli while others between Police Plaza near Hatirjheel and Gulshan-2.

Each passenger will have to pay Tk 15 for travelling any of the two routes, he told The Daily Star.

The rickshaws will have specific colour and these will be operated on different sub-roads adjacent to thoroughfares in these areas, he added.

Fares of around 20 destinations will be written at the back side of the rickshaws so that passengers would not need to bargain with the pullers over fare, the mayor informed.

Apart from DNCC, different community based welfare organisations and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) also played significant role to introduce the service, he said.

The authorities have come up with the initiative as police banned bus operation at Gulshan and Banani areas for security reason following the July 1 Gulshan café attack that left 22 people including 17 foreigners and 2 police officials killed.

The rickshaw pullers and bus drivers will be provided with ID cards, said an official of Gulshan Zone police.

The rickshaw pullers will also be source of information. As soon as they notice any unexpected incident, they will inform police immediately, he told The Daily Star.