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Manpower crisis affects Jhalakathi BRTA service


Bangladeshpost
Published : 07 Apr 2021 09:30 PM

Al-Amin Talukdar, Jhalokathi

Customers are not getting the desired service at Jhalokathi office of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) due to manpower crisis. Service seekers have to wait day after day to get their driving licenses and registrations from the office. 

Currently, an assistant director who is the additional in-charge of three circles is working at the top post of the office one day every week. However, BRTA officials say that they are trying to provide the best possible service to the public even though it is delayed due to lack of manpower as per the structure.

The activities of Jhalokathi and Pirojpur Circles of BRTA began their journey in 2012. Since then, the work of Jhalokathi office has been going on at a slow pace due to manpower crisis. Although BRTA Jhalakathi was declared a separate circle earlier this year, manpower has not been recruited as per the structure so far. 

Assistant Director Atiqul Alam, is currently holding additional responsibilities in the top post of Jhalokathi BRTA office. He is also handling the responsibilities of Barisal and Pirojpur offices. That is why he is working in Jhalakathi office one day a week. 

There are also vacancies for a motor vehicle inspector and an office assistant. As a result, all the office work has to be done with only a motor vehicle inspector and an MLSS. Due to the long-running manpower crisis, customers are facing difficulties in collecting the necessary documents including driving license and registration there. Some of the service seekers who recently came for services at the BRTA office have expressed frustration over the quality of service there, saying they had to wait day after day to get driving licenses and registration due to the manpower crisis. If the authorities take into account the plight of the common man and recruit the necessary manpower, they will be able to receive the service in time, they added. 

Motor Vehicle Inspector at Jhalokathi BRTA Circle Mohammad Mahfuz Hossain said, "Although, the pace of work has slowed down due to the manpower crisis, we are trying to serve the customers as much as possible." 

However, if manpower is recruited according to the structure, customers will no longer have to come and sit in the BRTA office. Services could be provided in time, he added.

According to sources, only 297 vehicle registrations and 1,231 driving licenses were collected from the Jhalakathi BRTA office last year, due to the ongoing manpower crisis.