Rajshahi, Oct 04 (V7N) – Questions have been raised over alleged unauthorised collections from Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses operating from Rajshahi, with people familiar with the depot alleging that Tk 200 to Tk 300 is being collected from some buses for each trip without official receipts.
The allegations centre on the BRTC bus depot and training facilities in Rajshahi and the activities surrounding ticket sales commission agents following the change in management arrangements after August 2024.
According to documents and information provided by people familiar with the matter, the previous ticket sales arrangement remained in place until June 2026. A former agent, who had controlled several ticket counters and six leased BRTC buses, lost control after the fall of the previous government.
After the earlier agreement expired in June, Moinul Islam was temporarily assigned responsibility as a ticket booking representative for BRTC buses operating on different routes from Rajshahi on June 18, 2026.
On August 20, BRTC signed a memorandum of understanding with Moinul Islam appointing him as a commission agent for three years.
Four days later, on August 24, another memorandum was signed with Al Amin Sarker Titu, allowing him to operate BRTC ticket counters at six locations in Rajshahi city — Talaimari, Bhadra intersection, Rajib Chattar, Kumarpara, Rajshahi Court and Nagar Bhaban.
Meanwhile, counters at Railgate, Gorhanga Graveyard, Shiroil Bus Terminal, Railway Market and Bondhgate remained under Moinul Islam, according to the information provided.
The presence of two commission agents operating counters in the same city has reportedly created disputes over counter locations and overlapping points. Those involved said the disagreement has yet to be fully resolved.
Meanwhile, allegations have emerged that an agent is attempting to establish control over operations at the newly relocated BRTC depot in Naodapara.
People familiar with the matter alleged that Tk 200 to Tk 300 was being collected from buses for each trip through a system similar to one allegedly used in the past. They said the money was initially collected at different points in the city.
The alleged collections reportedly stopped temporarily in front of the ticket counters following strong objections from one side involved in the commission agency arrangement. However, the complainants claimed that the practice later continued at the Naodapara depot.
They also alleged that no receipt or money memo was issued against the cash collections.
BRTC Rajshahi Depot Manager Raj Kumar said such collections had previously taken place in the Railgate area but were stopped after the depot's deputy general manager and unit head instructed that they should not continue.
“No money is being collected from the depot in the previous manner,” he said.
The issue also involves the Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA), which is providing space at a truck terminal for parking BRTC buses after the depot was relocated.
Officials at the RDA said BRTC is required to pay the authority a monthly rental for using the truck terminal to park buses.
RDA Chairman Abul Kalam Azad said the authority would receive Tk 50,000 per month, including VAT and taxes, from BRTC under the arrangement.
He said that under the previous system, the RDA was supposed to receive Tk 15 to Tk 20 from each bus trip departing on different routes. Instead, BRTC will pay the authority a fixed monthly amount of Tk 50,000, he said.
Asked about the alleged collection of Tk 200 to Tk 300 from each bus trip, Rajshahi BRTC Depot Deputy General Manager (P&S) and Unit Head Engineer Moniruzzaman Babu said he was not aware of the matter.
“I am currently abroad. I will look into the overall issue after returning to the country,” he said.
The allegations have prompted questions about who is authorised to collect money from BRTC buses, under what arrangement such collections are made, and whether all payments are being properly recorded and deposited with the relevant authorities.
END/MRA/SMA/
