The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has urged the government to take immediate action to stop excessive fare collection and passenger harassment in public transport during the Eid travel period. In a statement issued on Saturday, the association’s secretary general Mozammel Haque Chowdhury criticized the new road minister for conducting what he described as superficial inspections at bus terminals alongside media and transport owners.

The statement alleged that the long-standing system of fare irregularities remains unchanged and that the government has failed to introduce structural reforms or ensure accountability under existing laws. It called on the new minister to personally observe the situation by visiting major terminals such as Sayedabad, Gulistan, Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Sadarghat in disguise to witness the real conditions faced by passengers.

The association further claimed that despite official announcements not to raise fares for Eid, transport operators are charging double or triple the regular rates on various routes, including Dhaka–Gazipur and Dhaka–Mawa. It urged the minister to take effective measures reflecting the prime minister’s intent to protect passengers from exploitation.