General
Three BRTC buses serving HSTU suspended over Tk 25 lakh in arrears
Translated by Desk Report
Services of three BRTC double-decker buses in the transport pool of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur have been temporarily suspended over nearly five months of unpaid bills. The resulting reduction in bus trips has left students facing difficulties.
According to sources at the university’s transport section and BRTC’s Dinajpur depot, BRTC had been operating the three double-deckers in coordination with the university’s transport section under an agreement covering a specified number of trips. However, payments for the buses have remained unpaid since June, leaving nearly five months of bills outstanding. BRTC authorities subsequently wrote to the university’s transport section seeking the suspension of services.
In response, the university’s transport section published a revised timetable last Monday (November 9), excluding the three double-deckers. The reduction in trips has sparked discontent among students. Many took to Facebook to express their frustration and demand the swift resumption of BRTC services and restoration of the previous number of trips.
Bharat Chandra Roy, TA at BRTC’s Dinajpur depot, said more than Tk 25 lakh was outstanding for the period from June to November 9, including regular hire charges and adjustments for the increase in fuel prices. He said they could no longer operate regular trips under these circumstances.
Professor Dr Siddiqur Rahman, director of the university’s transport section, said BRTC services had been temporarily suspended because of the accumulated arrears. The university administration had been informed and had said it would take prompt steps to resume services.
He added that discussions with the authorities would take place today, Tuesday (November 10). If the talks proved fruitful, the arrears could be paid promptly and services could resume under the previous timetable as early as tomorrow, Wednesday.
Those concerned have called for prompt payment of the arrears and the resumption of BRTC services to ease students’ difficulties.
