September 10, 2021. The authorities concerned will operate 130 luxury buses in the dedicated corridor from Gazipur to Dhaka Airport under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, a new transport mode in Bangladesh. The BRT system is scheduled to be launched in December 2022.
Safiqul Islam, Managing Director of Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit Company Ltd, said: “We will buy a total of 130 luxury buses to operate the country’s first BRT service. Of the buses, 80 will be compressed natural gas (CNG) run and 50 will be battery-driven electric buses.”
“All the buses will have a capacity of carrying 70-80 passengers as there will be space available for standing. The floors of the vehicles will remain at the same level as the platform of the bus stoppages. So, passengers cannot get on or get down without platforms,” he added.
At a press conference, Safiqul Islam said It would be the first AC bus service between Dhaka and Gazipur under government initiative, which is scheduled to be opened next year. “It will take only 35-40 minutes for the journey and some 20,000 passengers can move per hour,” he added.
The project’s feasibility was tested by the World Bank in 2012 and in the same year the government approved it. After missing several deadlines, the authorities are now optimistic that operation will be started in 2022.
