Staff Correspondent

Passengers traveling to and from the country's south-western districts are facing extreme hardship following a government decision to close down private inter-district bus counters at the Fulbaria bus terminal in Gulistan.

While terminals in Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Sayedabad remain operational in their original locations, commuters from 21 south-western districts who previously relied on the centrally located Fulbaria terminal have been left stranded and stranded in confusion.

Under a recent decision by the authorities aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital, private bus companies operating out of Gulistan were ordered to relocate their operations to the Sayedabad bus terminal. However, bus owners and transport operators complain that the directive was executed abruptly without providing adequate time or a viable alternative location.

Passengers noted that the central location of the Fulbaria BRTC bus terminal—situated near two metro rail stations—made it exceptionally convenient for travelers heading to the south-western region. With the counters suddenly shut down without prior notice or transition arrangements, commuters are now forced to endure immense hardship, walking long distances or taking rickshaws from Gulistan to distant boarding points.

Public frustration is mounting as travelers point out that the abrupt relocation has multiplied transit times and physical exhaustion.

Bus owners echoed similar concerns, stating that while they support government initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, the closure should have been implemented uniformly. They questioned why terminals in Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Sayedabad continue to operate within the city while Gulistan alone has faced targeted closures.

The decision has also dealt a severe blow to transport workers and owners. Many bus counters have been forced to shut down, leaving transport workers and drivers unemployed and struggling to support their families. Furthermore, bus owners reported that trip frequencies have plummeted, leaving vehicles idle and threatening massive defaults on bank loans taken to finance their fleets. They also warned that the disruption is causing a significant loss of government revenue from the sector.

Transport operators and distressed commuters have urged the government to review the decision, demanding either a phased transition with designated alternative facilities or the temporary resumption of operations from Gulistan to safeguard the transport industry and alleviate public suffering.