Of Caring Carriers
First the improved and regular trains and now the airconditioned express bus - communication between Dhaka and Narayanganj is evidently headed for a welcome change after decades of neglect. The twin towns could be one and the same but for 10 kilometres of low land on the one side and a river on the other. The physical separation has, however, pushed up the passenger traffic between the two rather than lessening it. Trains deteriorated becoming garbage carriers and that too very uncertain and irregular. The commuters ran for the buses. The bus operators made the most of a seller's market situation by offering the world's worst service between any twin cities anywhere. It is good that something positive is being done about this most important passenger shuttle moving tens of thousands of people. In Dhaka there isn't yet a stand for Narayanganj buses. And buses with daubings of Birotihin and Sitting Service and gatelock etc pack passengers and depart and reach at their own convenience. Now that some people in the governing seats are taking care of this important communication link - the improvement process must not die in the autur ghar or labour room. The airconditioned buses, a small fleet of them to begin with, is all right and is most welcome. Besides having very important uses such as carrying children and women and the old and the invalid, the A.C. buses would surely exert a healthy influence on the service of the standard buses which ironically conform to no standards whatsoever. The move in the right direction should continue till all the buses of the route begin to practise some passenger-friendly norms.
For some time to come even A.C. buses will use the so-called Bishwa Road via Adamjee. A longish Siddhirganj-Adamjee stretch is too narrow to take even three vehicles abreast. In fact, the Premium Bus operators have justified their 20-taka fare by citing possible jams there. Something must be done to beat this congestion before the fruits of the good moves should prove tasty and mouthful.
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