The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has accused the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association of violating its earlier pledge to prevent overcharging on bus fares during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha travel period. In a statement released to the media on Monday, the group’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said the breach of promise has led to widespread fare irregularities and a surge in road fatalities. The organization demanded immediate government action to stop the fare chaos and ensure safe travel for low-income and working-class passengers.

The statement cited recent fatal incidents, including a truck overturning near the eastern end of the Jamuna Bridge that killed 17 and injured 10, and a lightning strike on a train roof in Narsingdi that killed two. It said many poor and informal-sector workers are forced to travel on unsafe vehicles or roofs due to unaffordable fares. The group criticized repeated state failures to guarantee safe Eid journeys.

The Samity urged authorities to enforce strict fare regulations and called on passengers to avoid unsafe travel modes during the holiday season.