A mobile court in Shariatpur today (August 7, 2022) fined three bus companies Tk 60,000 for overcharging passengers by showing the 52-seat buses as having 40 seats.

Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Mandeep Gharai, who led the mobile court, confirmed the development to our local correspondent.

The magistrate said Shariatpur Super Service bus was fined Tk 25,000 while Shariatpur Paribahhan Tk 25,000 and Shariatpur Transport Tk 10,000.

The mobile court was conducted at Shariatpur bus stand this noon to monitor the new bus fare fixed by the government yesterday following the fuel price hike.

During the drive, the mobile court team found five 51-seat buses of the three companies, which were converted into 52-seat through registration. The same vehicles were overcharging passengers showing those as 40 seats, added the magistrate.

The 52-seat bus from Dhaka to Shariatpur would cost Tk 200 per passenger under the last fare set by the government, while the 40-seat bus will cost Tk 257. Although the fitness paper showed that these buses have 52 seats, they were charging customers more by showing 40 seats, said the magistrate.