After seventeen months into the new system from October 2003 to February 2005, private operators of bus terminals at Sayedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli owe about Tk 4 crore 50 lakh to the DCC including 15% VAT and 3% tax, DCC officials said.

In the last 17 months the operators paid about Tk 45 lakh and the DCC is apprehending to incur loss of the rest of the amount, according to DCC officials.

The operators said they are not able to pay the amount because they do not get the total earning of the terminals adding that they have not yet got the full responsibility of the terminals as improvement works in the three terminals are still going on.

"We are paying the DCC partially as we are yet to get the full control of the total sources of earning at the terminals that include shops, ticket counters and by leasing toilets," said Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, proprietor of Panama Enterprise.

After taking responsibility of the three terminals--Sayedabad and Mohakhali terminals by Rora Enterprise and Gabtoli by Diba Enterprise--the operators have been collecting toll at Tk 30 per bus daily since October 1, 2003.

Rora Enterprise owes about Tk one crore ten lakh to the DCC for October 2003-March 2004 period while Diba Enterprise owes more than two crore taka for October 2003-February 2005 period, according to DCC sources.

Meanwhile, the DCC appointed another private operator, Panama Enterprise, in June last year at Sayedabad and Mohakhali bus terminals after cancelling the contract with Rora Enterprise in March 2004 for violating conditions, and filed a case against the firm. The new operator also now owes nearly one crore to the DCC for June 2004-February 2005 period.

Earlier, when the DCC controlled the terminals, it earned Tk. 3.5 crore and Tk. 3 crore in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 fiscal years mainly from toll collection and also from shop rental and ticket counters, according to the sources.

As ruling BNP influential leaders, ward commissioners, transport leaders in connivance with the DCC's high-ups are actually behind the scene in the name of private operators, they pay no heed to the reminder of the DCC, the sources said adding that they plunder most of the money.

A former Ward Commissioner and BNP leader of Demra thana is controlling the Sayedabad terminal, while a sitting Ward Commissioner of Gulshan area and several transport leaders are dominating Mohakhali terminal, and two ward commissioners are controlling the Gabtoli terminal, DCC sources said.

When asked about the conditions of the three bus terminals, the DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka said he is not aware of and cannot tell about the actual facts and amount of money the private operators owe to the DCC.

Besides failing better management from the very beginning, the private operators have also failed in assuring minimum service for the passengers.

The terminals were handed over to the private operators at the prescription of the World Bank in order to acquire the funds of Tk 44 crore for terminal improvement.

About 800 buses leave from Mohakhali bus terminal, 1200 from Sayedabad and 1400 from Gabtoli terminal daily.