Spl bus, rickshaw services launched for diplomatic zone

Dhaka North City Corporation on Wednesday launched twenty air-conditioned buses and 500 rickshaws designated only for the diplomatic zone in the capital.
LGRD minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated the new services amid restriction on traffic in the area as part of security measures after the Gulshan attack.
The city corporation sources said the bus service, Dhaka Chaka, and the special rickshaws would move only at Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketon.

The corporation in cooperation with leaders of the societies that maintain the areas took the initiative as police banned bus operation in the areas on security ground after militant attack at a Gulshan restaurant on July 1 left 29 people including 17 foreigners dead.
The initiative is meant to ensure security, address traffic jam and reduce residents’ sufferings for public transport in the areas, said Dhaka north city mayor Annisul Haq as chair of the launching programme at Police Plaza at Hatirjhil.
The city corporation chief executive officer, Mesbahul Islam, told New Age that the initiative had been taken jointly by the home affairs ministry, community societies of the four areas and the city corporation.
Under the services, a total of 20 buses will be run in these areas by private operators while the bus fares will be no more than Tk 15.
On the first day, 10 buses operated while the rest would be put into service by August 20, said officials.
The buses are currently running on two routes – Navana intersection (Tejgaon-Gulshan link road)-Police Plaza-Gulshan 1- Rupayan Tower-Gulshan 2 square route and Kakoli intersection-Banani Bazar-Gulshan 2 –Natun Bazar route.
The 35-seat air-conditioned buses will be available every 10 minutes.

LGERD and co-operatives minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain inaugurates exclusive bus and rickshaw service for Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketon area in Dhaka on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Two hundred rickshaws will run each in Gulshan and Banani areas while 50 rickshaws will operate each in Niketon and Baridhara areas.
The rickshaws are of yellow and green colours while the rickshaw-pullers were provided with orange colour dress.
The rickshaws have fare chart for different destinations.
Against each rickshaw there will be three pullers. The DNCC would collect bio-data of the drivers and rickshaw owners also.
The ceremony was attended, among others, by inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque, DMP commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia, lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah and Nitol-Niloy Group chairman Abdul Matlub Ahmed.
As special guest, IGP Shahidul Hoque said the Gulshan attack tarnished the country’s image abroad.
Dhaka city is safer than any previous time but the police have to regain the confidence of the foreigners, he said.
He urged all families and guardians to monitor the activities of their children so that they would not get involved in extremist activities.
‘If the behavior of your child changes or you find it suspicious, monitor them closely and if needed seek help from police,’ said the IGP.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net