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Eid windfall begins in ticketing

Akbar Hossain and Ashiqur Rahman
Homebound city dwellers are now purchasing tickets for buses, trains and launches at muchhigherprices in orderto celebrate the Eid-ul-Azha withtheirnearanddearones.
Long route passengers have alleged that transport operators were charging Tk 80 to. Tk 100 in extra fees for fares, defying Bus Owners' Association's letters to all bus operators asking them not to charge fares higher than those fixed by the association.
"We fixed increased fares fromTk 20 to Tk 50, depending on routes. If-any bus operators charge higher fares than the rate fixed by the association, we will take instant action
against them," said GM Siraj, chairman ofthe Bus Owners' Association.
But bus operators in Gabtoli and Sayedabad bus terminal yesterday were found to charge much higher fares.
"I paid Tk 240 instead of the regular fare ofTk 160," said Swandip Chowdhury, a Gaibandha bound passenger of Al-Hamra Paribahan at Gabtoli.
Mohammed Mostafa, a Pirojpur bound passenger of Dola Paribahan in Sayedabad also alleged that he had to pay Tk 230 whereas the regular fareisTkl50.
Defending their position, bus operators said their vehicles now return to Dhaka from distant places without any passengers. They added that they were not charging fares
higher than the government rates.
Some operators said they had to charge higher fares as the price of diesclhasgoneup.
Meanwhile, all of Bangladesh Railway's advance tickets were sold outbyyesterday.
Despite the government's declaration to take steps against black marketing of train tickets, it was found at Kamalapur Railway Station that tickets were selling in the black market for double the price yesterday.
Even Government Railway Police (GRP) are allegedly involved with the malpractice.
When tliis correspondent went to a GRP staff in the guise of a Fcni bound passenger, he said, "If you give me Tk 250 then I will take you with me as I am able to take up to five persons."
Some passengers protested on the premises of the station when they found that there were no tickets in the counters.
"They (ticket counter men) say that all the tickets have been sold. But tickets are available when passengers are paying extra money," said Badiur Bahman, a Chltttagong bound passenger.
The situation was no different at the Sadarghat launch terminal. Launch operators are charging higher hires from the passengers in the name of price hikes of diesel. Tickets were selling in the black market.
Mismanagement at bus and launch terminals is likely to further worsen when the four-day government Eid holidays begin on Thursday.