The special service is supposed to carry passengers as per the seat capacity and stop only at the designated points to reach every destination in time.

The fare of the service was fixed much higher than the normal ones. The passengers also agreed to pay the fare for the sake of a comfortable journey.

But the buses of special service now a days remain overcrowded beyond their capacity, causing suffering to the passengers. The service offered facilities, so far, has been quite contrary to its promise made four years ago.

The buses take and drop passengers wherever they like, causing gridlock in the city streets and charge fares several times higher then the ones fixed by the authorities.

The buses charge a minimum of Tk 2 per head for any distance, be it even 50 meters, in a board-on and board-off system instead of Tk 0.83 per kilometer.

The Bus Owners-workers' Association sources, however, said they charge Tk 2 per head for travelling up to three kilometers and take Tk 1 more for every additional kilometer.

The transport workers, sometimes, pick up a quarrel with the passengers over distance as they claim higher fare, the commuters said.

Quarrel between the passengers and the conductors over the fare, is a common scene.

The situation worsened further after the City Bus-Minibus Human Hauler Owners' Associa-tion began to realise a minimum of Tk 3 for any journey on September 22 following the recent fuel price hike.

The incidents of altercation and brawl with the passengers happened when the transport workers tried to realise the additional fare on the day.

Besides, the passengers complained of misbehaviour by the transport workers.

Al Quadery Palash, a commuter, said the buses do not leave the regular stoppage despite having all the seats filled with passengers and many of them standing inside.

The transport workers also harassed those who dared to protest it, Palash said.

The passengers urged the authorities concerned to take measures to stop this bad practice and save the passengers from harassment.

Sharif Chowhan, coordinator of Jono Udyog, an environmental organisation, said under the banner of "Special City Service" a section of dishonest transport owners were operating buses many of which are hardly fit for plying on the road. These so called "special service buses" were the old-modelled vehicles that have simply gone through some face-lifting for charging higher fare. Most of them have damaged windows and fans and lights out of order.

Some 354, out of around 600 buses, plying in the city have valid documents and approval from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), sources said.

Md. Rafiq, a leader of the association, said almost all the buses have legal documents, including a licence or route permit and a few might have expired papers.

Regarding the fare, he said they have been realising Tk 2 for any journey.

"In some cases we are charging fares less than the government fixed ones," he said, adding that Tk 2 is being charged for a distance of three kilometers.

Kaji Amanat Ullah, a bus owner, denied the allegations brought against them. He said the fare is being realised according to the recent decision.