Nirmol Barua Milon :: Rangamati is a city of tourism and recognized as Queen of beauty in Bangladesh.  We have seen that Tempo, Motorcycle, Easy Bikes, Three wheelers, Jeep, Microbus and also battery powered rickshaws are allowed and used for passenger transportation in Bandarban and Khagrachari, neighboring district of Rangamati Hill District. But unexpectedly, we have seen that for local transports in this city roads, CNG Auto Rickshaws are only allowed to drive here and not the other categories of vehicles are allowed and get the permission for the public transportation here. By taking this advantage, the CNG Auto- drives, hike the price for the local transportation, even after fixing the rent price.

For a long period of time, the local people’s demand here in Rangamati City is that besides those CNG-Auto-rickshaws, to make available the other types of vehicles like Tempo, Motorcycle, Easy Bikes, Three wheelers, Jeep, Microbus and also battery powered rickshaws for local transportation, as like as Bandarban and Khagrachari, for the passenger transport. 

In spite of taking initiatives by the Rangamati District Regional Transport Committee (RDRTC) and Local District Governance, it is not yet been possible to add other vehicle categories  available for transportation in the city areas because of the local leader’s and Rangamati Auto-rickshaw Driver Association’s (RARDA) unwillingness.

Because of this pandemic situation, a new passenger rental rescheduling was announced in the last month of May 2021. This rent was fixed by holding a meeting with the RDRTC, Rangamati Auto-rickshaw Owner’s Association (RAROA) and RARDA, which was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati. But then also, the CNG-Auto rickshaw drivers were not maintaining this fixed price of rental.

While previously the rent was Rijarvbazar to Tabalchari was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30 taka from each of the passengers.Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Central Shahid Minar/ Old Bus Stand was 8 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 13 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Fishary Ghat/Pourosova was 10 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 16 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Banarupa/Court Building was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Stadium/Post Office was 15 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 24 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30-40 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to College Gate was 20 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 32 taka but CNG driver’s takes 40-50 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Sadar Upozilla Porisod was 24 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 39 taka but CNG driver’s takes 45-50 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Rijarvbazar /Tabalchari to Vedvedi was 24 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 39 taka but CNG driver’s takes 50-60 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to College Gate/Sadar Upozilla Porisad was 8 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 13 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Stadium/ Post Office was 10 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 16 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20-30 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Court-Building/ Banarupa was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20-30 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Fisheri Ghat was 18 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 29 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30-40 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Central Shahid Minar/ Old Bus stand was 20 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 32 taka but CNG driver’s takes 40-50 taka from each of the passengers.  Also, while previously the rent was College Gate to Court-Building/ Banarupa was 10 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 16 taka but CNG driver’s takes 20-30 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Tabalchari to Asambosti was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30-40 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Tabalchari to Parjaton/ BGB Gate was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 40-50 taka from each of the passengers. Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Monoghar was 10 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 16 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30 taka from each of the passengers.  Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Rangapani was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 40 taka from each of the passengers.  Also, while previously the rent was Vedvedi to Monoghar/Asambosti was 20 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 32 taka but CNG driver’s takes 60 taka from each of the passengers.  Also, while previously the rent was Rangamati Press Club to DC Banglo/ Government High School was 12 taka, after re-scheduling the rent is now 20 taka but CNG driver’s takes 30-40 taka from each of the passengers. 

It has been declared by the RDRTC, by noticing that it is not allowed to take more than 2 passengers in those CNG/ Auto-rickshaws. Highest 3 person would allowed if these passengers were from the same family, but in these case, of course, proven certificates need to showed by the passengers. The rent will remain fixed until further notice announced by the government. It is mandatory to place the rental price list in a visible position inside the vehicle and need to be shown to passengers while transporting. Strict actions will be taken to those who disobey the mentioned instructions.  Those who victims of this excessive rental price taken by the CNG drivers, complained to us that the notice given by the RDRTC was not obeying by the CNG/Auto-rickshaw drivers. On this matter, Mokhter Ahmed, Vice- President, Committee of National Workers League, Rangamati District told us that they heard those passenger’s harassment on a regular basis. “CNG/ Auto- rickshaw drivers often took rent in excess than the prescribed rent to them. Also, they are not following the instructions properly. Instead of taking two passenger often they took 5 passengers and sometimes also if they can’t get the demanded rent from the passengers, they misbehave with them”, he mentioned.

 He also mentioned that if the local governance and law enforcement force would not take proper initiatives from now on, the passengers continuingly had to pay this extra rental price. So, “the local leaders of RARDA, also need to be more sincere on this matter and take the proper initiatives to stop further harassment to the passengers”, he told.