Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam today told parliament that a fare chart for AC buses and minibuses will soon be prepared.
The fare list will be displayed digitally inside public transport vehicles, he said in response to a query from independent MP Rumeen Farhana.
Replying to another question from ruling party MP Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, the minister said that to restore discipline in the transport sector, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has taken steps to introduce GPS technology in public transport operating on highways.
Once implemented, the location and speed of vehicles can be monitored easily. This will help control irregularities such as indiscriminate stops, overcharging passengers, and traffic violations. Any breach of speed limits or traffic laws will be automatically recorded, and legal action will be taken against the driver and the vehicle owner concerned.
In response to a question from NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah, the minister said that between January 1, 2024, and the present, 81 contracting firms have been declared ineligible for procurement activities for varying periods due to proven involvement in fraudulent practices.
Legal action has also been taken against individuals or officials involved in professional misconduct under relevant laws and regulations, with several government officials currently facing departmental cases under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
Meanwhile, answering a question from ruling party MP Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said that of the 25 mills under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), nine are currently operating under private management, and plans are underway to reopen the closed mills.
On July 1, 2020, production in all 25 BJMC mills was halted. Later, 20 mills were scheduled to reopen under lease arrangements. Fourteen leases have since been terminated, nine mills restarted, while six are in the process of being leased out.
Proposals have been invited for three mills, evaluation is ongoing for one, and expressions of interest have been sought for another. The remaining mills are expected to reopen under private management by December this year, in line with the government’s 31-point programme.
Responding to a question from ruling party MP Mohammad Ali Asgar, the minister said that in FY 2024–25, raw jute was exported to 30 countries and jute goods to 138 countries. In that fiscal year, 42,039 metric tonnes of raw jute and 751,739 metric tonnes of jute goods were exported.
He added that in the current fiscal year (July–February), 22,850 metric tonnes of raw jute and 409,366 metric tonnes of jute goods have been exported.
