Passenger photos to be taken during Eid journey to prevent robbery: Home Adviser

In a move to enhance security during the upcoming Eid holiday, the government will require transport operators to photograph all passengers boarding long-distance buses at every stop, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced Tuesday.

Speaking at a press briefing outside his office at the Secretariat, the adviser said the measure aims to prevent incidents of robbery and other crimes that have historically occurred during the busy holiday travel period.

"Criminals often pose as passengers to carry out robberies on long-distance routes," he explained. "To tackle this, transport staff must take photos of all passengers boarding from the first stop to the last. For example, at Amin Bazar or Savar, passengers must be photographed before the bus continues its journey."

Each bus will have three staff members assigned to monitor passenger activity. If they detect any suspicious behavior, they are instructed to immediately inform the bus owners and law enforcement agencies.

The adviser also stressed the importance of using skilled drivers during the holiday rush, noting that previous Eid seasons saw untrained drivers behind the wheel, which increased the risk of accidents. “We’ve asked transport owners to ensure that only qualified drivers are allowed to operate buses,” he said.

Chowdhury further addressed fare regulation, stating that the government has reached an agreement with the Bus Owners’ Association to strictly adhere to government-fixed fares for both departure and return trips. “Last Eid, most operators followed fare rules on the way out but overcharged on the return journey. This time, we’ve agreed there will be no deviation from the set fares,” he added.

The government hopes these measures will ensure a safe, orderly, and affordable Eid travel experience for all passengers.