Dhaka remains beleaguered by a severe shortage of buses, compounding the daily struggles of office-goers and others reliant on public transport.
This scarcity, persisting over recent days, has been exacerbated by new transport regulations mandating pink-coloured buses under an e-ticketing system.
From early morning on Wednesday (12 February), Dhaka’s major roads witnessed an alarmingly sparse presence of buses, with the few in operation crammed beyond capacity.
Commuters, unable to board these overcrowded vehicles, were left with little choice but to resort to costlier alternatives such as CNG-run auto-rickshaws, pedal-powered rickshaws, and ride-sharing motorbikes, all demanding exorbitant fares.
Last week, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) decreed that buses plying the Abdullahpur-Gazipur route be repainted pink and brought under an e-ticketing framework.
In its initial phase, this directive affected 2,610 buses from 21 companies.
Since the implementation of this policy, an artificial transport crisis has unfolded across the city, with bus operators deliberately reducing services.
At Khilkhet intersection, a private sector employee, lamented, “I've been waiting endlessly for a bus to Mohakhali. The few buses that appear are packed to the brim. This has been the scenario for days, forcing me to rely on expensive ride-sharing services.”
Another commuter remarked, “The new ticketing system and mandatory colour change have discouraged many operators from running their buses. This has left thousands of commuters stranded daily. The authorities must act against operators who are wilfully exacerbating public misery.”
“Many owners have sent their buses for repainting. The e-ticketing system reduces the income of drivers and conductors, discouraging them from operating under these new rules,” said a helper at Victor Bus Service.
A driver working for Turag Bus Service, said, “Police are issuing fines to buses without the pink colour and ticketing system. Fear of penalties and financial losses has deterred many from putting their vehicles on the road.”
The situation underscores the unintended consequences of a well-intentioned policy, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue between transport authorities and operators to prevent further commuter hardships.