Rent-a-car traders are doing brisk business ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr capitalising on the scarcity of tickets for other modes of transport and the traffic mismanagement, sources said.
The shortage of tickets for inter-district buses, trains and launches before the Eid compel a significant number of people every year to turn to the alternative modes of transport for going home to celebrate the festival with their families.
Md Ahmed Ali, a private bank official, came to Gulistan Wednesday to hire a microbus for going to Pirgasa in Rangpur.
Ali told the FE that he needed eight tickets for his family and friends but failed to collect the same. So he decided to hire a microbus.
It might be a bit costlier, but it would ensure a smooth journey home with the family and friends, he added.
Md Afzal Alam, a driver of the Kamal Rent-A-Car on the Nawabganj Road in the capital, said their business thrived on the upcoming occasion.
He said they were doing a brisk business thanks to the limited number of tickets for buses, trains and launches that forced a large number of people to hire cars and microbuses for going home.
Ajgor Ahmed, owner of the Misha Rent-A-Car in the Sukrabad area, said six cars and three microbuses of his organisation were booked until Tuesday evening and he turned down many requests from clients.
He said the fare was slightly higher due to the rising maintenance cost.
Member of Dhaka Car and Microbus Owners Association Md Shamsul Islam said they increased the fare by nearly 10 to 15 per cent due to the hike in fuel and maintenance costs.
He said maintenance costs increased nearly by 50 per cent in a year. But “we have raised the fare slightly,” he said.
Adnan Islam, a driver of a rent-a-car at Mirpur-11, told the FE that last year they charged Tk 5,500 to 6,000 for a trip to Comilla town by a microbus. But this year they are charging Tk 6,500-7000 while the fare for Rangpur has been fixed at Tk 12,500 to Tk 13,000.
