The same old complaints, same answers

Zahidul Islam bought a used motorcycle and went to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority's (BRTA) Mirpur office in September to have the ownership of the vehicle transferred to his name.

The resident of the capital's Pallabi area completed some paper work that day and BRTA officials asked him to return on October 31 for completing the rest of work.

As per their instructions, Zahidul went to the BRTA's office on that day but was told his application and other necessary documents were missing.

“Then I started moving from door to door of different officers to find the application. In the last one and half months, I had gone to the office over a dozen times. But I had no result,” he said.

“Finally, I contacted a deputy director today [Wednesday] who helped me to file a fresh application,” he said while describing to the BRTA chairman the sufferings he had endured. He was speaking at a public hearing organised by the BRTA at its Mirpur office yesterday.

Like him, over a dozen people went there with an array of complaints on BRTA's poor services.

In response to the complaints, BRTA Chairman Nazrul Islam said they would take necessary steps for improving services and consider their suggestions.

However, road transport experts termed such hearings nothing but an eye-wash.

“They [BRTA officials] listen, take notes and give assurance for changing the situation. No effective measures are taken to implement it,” said eminent road transport expert Prof Shamsul Hoque.

On May 9, the Anti-Corruption Commission organised a similar hearing on the BRTA's services at the capital's Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. Around two dozens people had placed almost similar complaints there.

Their vehicle documents were missing, they were harassed by BRTA staff while getting retro-reflective registration number plates, driving licences and fitness certificates, they complained. Brokers in connivance with some BRTA officials added to their sufferings, they added.

On that day, the BRTA officials in response assured them of resolving the problems within a day but in reality the situation has not improved.

Yesterday's hearing was almost similar.

When a person placed a complaint, the chairman instructed his subordinate officials to look into the matter and solve it.

“But it is not possible for the chairman to listen to all the people everyday. So, what will happen to others. Taking necessary measures to improve the entire service-providing system and to increase the number of manpower are needed,” said Shamsul Hoque.

The BRTA, the government's lone body to regulate road transport, has been facing widespread allegation of corruption for many years.

The chairman yesterday also admitted that there were some corrupt employees and officers there. Actions have already been taken against them, he claimed.

During yesterday's hearing, Jebunnessa, a Jahangirnagar University teacher, alleged that BRTA officers on October 13 asked her to go to the office on December 14 for biometric data collection.

“But today [Wednesday, December 14], they are saying their computer system has been facing technical faults for the last two months and asked me to wait for around two more months,” she said.

Ashraf Ali Khan Khasur, a former lawmaker of Netrakona, alleged that the BRTA officers were now claiming that he had not paid tax for 2013-2014 fiscal year and the lawmaker claimed that he had paid.

Nahid Binte Hossain, of the capital's Modhubagh area, said brokers, through underhand dealings with some corrupt BRTA staff, were cheating people in many ways.

Aminur Haque, a resident of Ibrahimpur area, said private bus operators in the capital were charging additional fare on different routes but the BRTA had been turning a blind eye to it.

The chairman requested people to directly contact senior officials of the BRTA if they faced any problems, instead of talking to lower-level employees.