Drivers of gas or petrol-powered auto-rickshaws who charge more than the meter fare will face legal action, according to a directive from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
The directive was issued in a letter signed by BRTA Director (Engineering) Shitangshu Shekhar Biswas on Monday. The letter was addressed to the Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
The letter states that cases should be filed against gas or petrol-powered 4-stroke three-wheeler auto-rickshaw drivers who charge passengers more than the government-approved meter rate.
The letter further refers to Section 35(3) of the Road Transport Act 2018, which mandates that owners or drivers of contract carriages must transport passengers to any destination within their route permit area and must not demand or collect fares beyond the meter rate.
Violation of this rule is punishable under Section 81 of the Act, with up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 50,000, or both. Additionally, drivers will have one penalty point deducted from their driving record for each offense.
In light of this, the BRTA has requested that complaints regarding overcharging by gas or petrol-powered 4-stroke three-wheeler auto-rickshaw drivers be taken seriously, and cases be filed against those found guilty of such violations.