Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has rescinded its recent instructions regarding the imposition of legal action and fines against CNG-driven auto-rickshaw operators for charging fares exceeding the government-mandated meter rates.
The announcement came on Sunday (16 February) via a press release from the Deputy Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Media and Public Relations Division, Mohammad Talebur Rahman.
In the release, the official informed the media that the directive pertaining to four-stroke three-wheeler vehicles, issued by the BRTA, had been officially cancelled.
Consequently, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has lifted the previously enforced roadblock and has urged the public to refrain from obstructing traffic flow.
The withdrawn directive had originally been issued on 10 February, under the signature of Shitanthu Shekhar Biswas, director of Engineering at the BRTA.
The letter had requested the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner to take legal action against any CNG or petrol-powered, four-stroke auto-rickshaw drivers found charging passengers beyond the government-specified rates.
Under Section 35(3) of the Road Transport Act, 2018, it is unlawful for contract carriage owners or drivers to demand or collect fares exceeding the rates shown on the meter for any journey within the designated route permit areas.
Violations of this rule could lead to a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk50,000 or both.
Additionally, drivers may face a demerit point deduction under Section 81 of the same law.
In light of these developments, the BRTA has requested that no further legal cases be initiated against drivers accused of overcharging, effectively terminating the enforcement of penalties.
CNG-run autorickshaw drivers withdrew their road blockades in parts of the capital city on Sunday soon after the government backed out of its decision to enforce metre-based fare or face fines or jail terms.
