Why this (un)fare meter?

By Alif Zabr, Dhaka
9 January 2006, 18:00 PM
The public transport fare meters (taxis and auto-rickshaws) should be withdrawn, as the regulatory authorities cannot run, monitor and enforce it. It is a farce due to the incompetence of the benign government, elected to power by a disillusioned electorate, hoodwinked by false promises. Politicians get elected to deliver miscarriage (of justice, not babies!).

The reason is simple: there is no Ministry of Transport! It is called by some other name (Communications), which cannot communicate! The same is the pathetic condition of the other ministries. This is the pattern of good governance: the 64 ministries cannot minister to the public needs. The politicians won't admit that the highest systems losses are in the political sector--mother of all evils! Another denial is the absence of public toilets. The very call of Nature is denied! This is worse than Greenhouse Effect. Prosecute the taxi drivers and the owners, and let them call strike, hartal, and demonstrations (What else?).

For how long? If the fare structure has to be revised, then do it, and convince the owners. The rules have to be enforced or reviewed. The violators are not prosecuted. Why this corrupt leniency?

The current official mood is self-survival during the coming general elections. What for? To continue with one public toilet for each million residents of the metropolis? Should the passengers burn the fare meters (violence imitated from political demonstrations) and set fire to the vehicles? The governors are blissfully unaware of the basic concepts of public and mass psychology.

Newton picked up a few grains of sand on the seashore. How many the regime has picked up?