On Friday, 20 March, a special mobile court operation was conducted along the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway in the Tongi area to ensure the safety and comfort of homebound passengers. The operation, which began in the morning and continued until 1:30 pm, focused on inspecting long-distance bus counters and addressing complaints of fare irregularities and overcrowding. Several bus counters were fined, and measures were taken to refund passengers who had been charged excessive fares.
OC Arifur Rahman of Tongi West Police Station told Kaler Kantho, “The operation primarily targeted excessive fare collection at bus counters, overloading beyond the permitted seating capacity, and ensuring smoother ticketing to reduce passenger inconvenience.”
The mobile court was presided over by Md. Mozaherul Haque, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate of the Gazipur Revenue Circle. During the operation, he imposed fines totaling BDT 35,000 on several bus counters for various violations. In addition, arrangements were made to refund the extra fare collected from passengers.
The magistrate provided the following instructions to bus counters during the operation:
Clearly display the official fare chart.
Stop carrying passengers beyond the designated seating capacity.
Ensure safe and comfortable travel for passengers.
Following the inspections, bus owners and counter operators were cautioned to maintain safety and transparency in passenger services, with a warning that strict action would be taken against any company violating regulations.
The table below summarises the key details of the operation:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Operation Location | Tongi Station Road, Gazipur |
| Operation Time | 9:00 am – 1:30 pm |
| Presiding Authority | Md. Mozaherul Haque, Assistant Commissioner (Land) & Executive Magistrate |
| Counters Fined | 5 (Primary Violations: Excessive Fare Collection, Overloading) |
| Total Fines Imposed | BDT 35,000 |
| Passenger Refunds | Extra fares collected refunded to passengers on buses |
| Key Instructions | Display fare list, stop overloading, ensure safe travel |
Such mobile court operations play a vital role in guaranteeing safe, convenient, and regulated transport for passengers returning home. The district administration has confirmed that similar initiatives will continue regularly to prevent passenger exploitation and uphold discipline on major highways.