Pre-polls travel boom sees free transport for some voters, higher fares for others
As the 13th national parliamentary election nears, some candidates are arranging free transportation to ensure voters can return to their constituencies from Dhaka.
At Sadarghat launch terminal, passengers boarded launches hired by candidates without paying fares, often upon showing voter ID cards.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. In Bhola‑2, BNP candidate Hafiz Ibrahim hired four launches: Tashrif‑1, 2, 3 and 4.
In Patuakhali‑4, BNP’s ABM Mosharraf arranged Jamal‑8 and Asha‑Jawa.
Independent candidate Hasan Mamun hired two launches in Patuakhali‑3, while Nurul Haque Nur of Gono Odhikar Parishad, contesting under the BNP‑led alliance, hired MV Royal Cruise‑2.
NCP's Noakhali-6 candidate Hannan Masud provided Eagle‑8.
The surge of homebound passengers coincided with government holidays, creating heavy crowds at Sadarghat. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority reported 33 launches departing between morning and noon, with 65 expected by day’s end.
River police deployed extra personnel. Officer‑in‑Charge Masud Rana said about 70 percent of the force was on election duty and no untoward incidents had been reported.
Passengers at Gabtoli bus terminal, Jatrabari, and Dholaipar, however, are facing contrasting scenes due to overcrowding, ticket shortages, and inflated fares.
Many people travelled from Gabtoli and Aminbazar in pickup vans and other vehicles to cast their votes.
Renu Akter, a garment worker from Gazipur, said she and her husband waited more than two hours for Rangpur tickets but failed to secure any.
A broker later offered seats on a Shyamoli NR Travels bus for Tk 1,200 per person, compared to the usual Tk 700.
Shyamoli NR Travels supervisor Kamal admitted fares had risen to Tk 1,000, citing buses returning nearly empty and noting that many had been hired in advance by candidates to transport workers from industrial areas.
Kamal confirmed that forty of their buses were dispatched from Mirpur, Khayratpur, and Nabinagar toward Rangpur and Chapai, arranged by candidates.
On the Dhaka-Faridpur route, Subarna Paribahan charged Tk 500 per passenger, up from the usual Tk 350. Staff member Mukhlesur Rahman said the approved fare was Tk 400, with an extra Tk 100 added as buses returned empty.
Hanif Enterprise supervisor Ahmed said most tickets had been sold online after the election schedule was announced, leaving counters empty and many passengers unable to travel.
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