photos by Andrew Biraj
Yasmeen Ahmed stands in front of the Shooting Complex in Gulshan, carrying two bulky jute bags in both hands as she eagerly keeps looking both ways for a CNG auto-rickshaw. She was on her way to Mohammadpur Preparatory Girls College where she has been teaching for the last eleven years. It was 7:00am and as she anxiously waits, several CNG auto-rickshaws drive by, but none wants to take her to her desired destination. Finally after fifteen long minutes she manages to get a CNG auto-rickshaw but the driver insists on being paid Tk 80 to take her to Mohammadpur on a ‘contract’. The usual fare from Gulshan-1 to Mohammadpur is about Tk 50-60 depending on the flow of traffic, whereas the driver asked for an additional Tk 20 over the meter fare
‘It is still much easier to get an auto-rickshaw in the morning,’ says Yasmeen ‘after work I have to linger in the streets for at least an hour in the scorching sun to get a CNG.’ She regrets the fact that the government or relevant authority is unable to handle this dreadful situation that seems to worsen by the day and harasses commuters intolerably. This is just one case amongst the several thousand CNG commuters who are compelled to endure similar circumstances. It is not unknown to most citizens of the trouble one has to go through to convince an auto-rickshaw driver to take a fare.
‘I have to pay a fare of Tk 60 on ‘contract’ to come to my university in Banani,’ says Aumiya Nasir who resides in Indira Road. ‘It usually takes around 15-20 minutes before I can get a CNG auto-rickshaw that is willing to go to Banani.’
Ever since CNG metered auto-rickshaws have been introduced in 2003, the complaints and distress of local commuters have been massive. Despite the assurance by the police, that CNG drivers are bound to take any fare irrespective of the distance or location, has never been the case. Drivers of three-wheelers began by asking for a little extra money, about Tk 5-10 over the fare determined by the meter. Eventually they started to demand as much as Tk 20 over the meter fare. In recent months the meter is seldom used by auto-rickshaw drivers who take fares on ‘contracts’. Over the last couple of months auto-rickshaw drivers are reportedly refusing to agree at any fare offered by commuters. They usually prefer long distance trips and that also has to be to a location of their choice.
In April, the interim government introduced a new fare chart for CNG auto-rickshaws. The new chart increases the fare for the first two kilometers from Tk 12 to Tk 13.5, while the fare per kilometer has been increased from Tk 5.0 to 5.5. The daily rental has been set to Tk 450 from Tk 300. The revised chart was anticipated to reduce the variance between commuters, drivers and owners but ironically it seems to have made it worse.
‘I just asked a driver if he would go to Dhanmondi and he said ‘no’, I asked him if he would go to any of the places among Panthapath, Mohmmadpur and Mirpur and he drove by without even replying,’ says one frustrated Naimul Haq, a private service holder who was outraged for having to wait for an auto rickshaw in Mohakhali for over an hour after office.
‘I do not understand where these drivers would want to go to and this kind of behavior is infuriating.’ This recent trend is stirring up aggravation among commuters whose only means of transportation are the CNG auto-rickshaws due to the cheaper fare compared to taxi cabs. Hence, commuters have their hands tied and despite their unwillingness to agree to take rides on ‘contract’ they are not given the privilege of other options.
‘It is understandable that due to the large amount of deposit that the drivers have to pay to the auto-rickshaw owners, they ask for extra money,’ says Kazi, a buisnessman. ‘But it is simply deplorable that they demand absurd fares for ‘contract’ and refuse to go where we ask them to.’
However, the drivers of three wheelers say that they are living in such desperate conditions and the only way for them to support their families is by taking extra money from their passengers.
‘I have to pay a daily rent of Tk 550 to the owner,’ says Noyon, a CNG driver. ‘With the terrible traffic jams and large queues at CNG filling stations, there is not enough time for us to even manage the deposit money. If we are to abide by the fare set by the meter we will lose our jobs and fail to support our families.’
‘When a 15 minute ride takes an hour and thirty minutes, what can I do but go on contracts?’ asks fifty year old auto-rickshaw driver, Md. Abul Hossain. ‘I have to pay a monthly house rent of Tk 3600 and with other expenses considered, such as groceries and children’s school fees, around Tk 12000 – 13000 have to be spent each month. If the owners violate the law set for a deposit money of Tk 450, is it our fault that we demand extra money to run our families?’
‘Driving an auto-rickshaw is a very exhausting job and even after driving for the entire day, I am left with a mere maximum of Tk 200 each day after paying the daily deposit,’ says Lal mia.
Most drivers claim that they are threatened of being fired if they refuse to pay the daily rental as set by their owners which ranges from Tk 600 – 700. Also, owners are having their auto-rickshaws driven on shifts by two drivers in a day. Hence a driver, who used to drive for 12 hours before, has to pay the same amount by driving for only four to six hours. In the process the owners earn about a whopping Tk 1200 each day which is Tk 750 more than the set daily deposit. After the new fare chart has been announced, the police and RAB are known to have filed cases against drivers who demand extra money from commuters and even their driver’s licenses have been seized.
‘Before we could bribe the police with Tk 100 – 200 but now it is even difficult to comprehend if they are willing to take the money. Mostly such offers leads to more trouble,’ says driver Reza who resides in Badda.
The chairman of Bangladesh Road and Transport Authority (BRTA) ABM Shahjahan agrees that many owners are taking a daily rental of more than Tk 450 but states that there isn’t anything that can be done.
‘We have revised the fare chart and increased the daily rental to help decrease this conflict,’ says Shajahan ‘Yet if the drivers continue to exploit commuters there is only one solution, that is the commuters should take the three wheeler to the nearest police station and the police will take the necessary action required to punish the driver.’ He also adds that several drivers have been sent to jail for overcharging passengers and owners against whom written complaints were obtained, had their road permits seized and registrations cancelled. Also, mobile courts are functioning across the city. Shajahan mentions that no future steps can be taken, to act as a permanent solution.
MH Iqbal, the secretary of Dhaka CNG Auto-Rickshaw Malik Shamity, denied a widespread of such accusations against auto-rickshaw owners regarding exploitation of drivers. ‘There maybe one or two such rare cases where owners exploit drivers by taking a daily rental of over Tk. 450. Strict actions have been taken against such owners and their auto-rickshaws have been confiscated,’ says Iqbal. He mentions that the Malik Shamilty negotiates with the CNG Drivers Association often, and usually when asked why they refuse fares, the drivers deny such actions.
‘I am an owner of an auto-rickshaw myself, but I am also a commuter and I am aware of the harassment a commuter has to go through because of the unreasonable contracts,’ agrees Iqbal. ‘We earnestly ask the drivers to at least take fares and not leave people stranded on the streets for hours.’
Most owners deny the accusations set against them while some acknowledge it.
‘I have three auto-rickshaws and my drivers are willing to pay Tk 500 if they are allowed to drive till 10pm,’ said Shoma, a banker ‘Most of us perceive the drivers to have earned a tiny amount at the end of the day but surprisingly my drivers told me that they are able to earn at least Tk 300 daily.’
ATM Nazmul Hassan, the Secretary of Dhaka Mohanogor CNG Babsha Malik Shamity, deeply regrets the current situation and says that he has been urgently attempting to improve this disturbing trend. ‘It is true that CNG owners take more than the set rental of Tk 450, but with the appalling rate of recent inflation, it is impossible for even the owners to lead a decent life,’ says Nazmul. He explains that the price of mobil has rocketed from Tk 120 – 200 in recent times and that the tax rate is so high it becomes terribly difficult for owners to import engine parts and maintain their vehicles. ‘The current situation needs immediate attention, as both the owners and the drivers cannot continue to function in this manner,’ says Nazmul. ‘I have taken various steps and even written a letter of prayer to the communication advisor to look into the matter but I am yet to receive a reply.’ He explains that the only solution is to reduce the percentage of tax and inflation if the government is willing to keep this sector working and provide a long-term solution. ‘Through New Age I would like to plead to the government to help make conditions better.’
If the authority is indifferent towards such unethical actions after having introduced the new fare chart, how can the circumstances improve? With 2500 CNG drivers in the country and the number of commuters three times that amount, can a fair solution be attained whereby commuters would be relieved of their daily harassment and both auto-rickshaw drivers and owners would be satisfied?
‘I am willing to pay a little extra money over the meter fair, but I would at least like to be assured that drivers wouldn’t refuse to take fares,’ says Yasmeen
