We applaud the government’s decision to set AC bus fares through digital displays — this is certainly a positive step. Transparent pricing will help commuters, reduce disputes, and bring a measure of accountability to a sector that is synonymous with irregularities.
For a city as congested and chaotic as Dhaka, such modernization is welcome and a long time coming.
With that said, let us be clear: This is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
The real crisis in public transport lies not in AC buses or having GPS trackers installed in them, but in the unfit, older vehicles that continue to ply the streets.
It is these buses that are unsafe, polluting, and contribute to not just the daily misery of commuters but also the vast number of accidents we see on our roads daily.
As such, it is removing them from service that must be treated as the priority.
Dhaka’s transportation has long needed a comprehensive overhaul — one that emphasizes safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
That means phasing out dilapidated buses, enforcing strict fitness standards, and investing in cleaner, more reliable fleets.
Public transport ought to be usable and efficient, yet in Dhaka, it is anything but. As the backbone of urban life, millions depend on buses every day, and their experience over the years has been degrading, to say the least.
AC buses are welcome, especially in an increasingly hotter city, as are measures for increased transparency. But broader reforms that prioritize commuter welfare is the need of the hour.
Bangladesh cannot afford to let its transport system remain stuck in the past and modernization must be comprehensive, not selective. It is time to build a public transport system that is truly worthy of a growing nation.
