To enhance passenger safety and comfort, Cox’s Bazar Traffic Police has introduced a digital rating, review, and complaint system for bus travelers on the Cox’s Bazar route—one of Bangladesh’s most important transport corridors. This initiative launched through the online platform “Online Bus Terminal” (OBT), aims to bring greater accountability and transparency to the public transport sector.
Despite numerous government and private initiatives to strengthen road safety, reckless driving and highway accidents remain persistent. Even though speed limits have been imposed, many drivers fail to comply, leading to frequent road mishaps, particularly during holiday seasons such as Eid, when accident rates spike alarmingly.
How Does the System Work?
According to Md. Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Cox’s Bazar, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure safe, smooth, and hassle-free travel for passengers during and after Eid-ul-Fitr.
Each bus operating on the Cox’s Bazar route now features a QR code sticker, which passengers can scan to submit real-time feedback.
Alternatively, travelers can visit the OBT website (www.obtcoxsbazar.com) to rate services, report reckless driving, document incidents of passenger harassment, and highlight both positive and negative experiences.
Passengers can also upload photos as evidence while lodging complaints.
The ratings and feedback will contribute to an overall evaluation of each transport service and will be shared with the traffic police and respective transport authorities for further action.
Building a Smarter Transport Database
The OBT database currently includes information on 1,800 buses operating under 126 inter-district and local transport companies, over 2,000 images of drivers and transport staff, updated details on bus fitness certificates and route permits, making it easier to identify unfit and unauthorized vehicles and mechanisms to reward skilled drivers while identifying and retraining high-risk drivers to improve overall road safety.
Ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility for drivers, transport authorities, passengers, and pedestrians. By encouraging real-time ratings and reviews, this system seeks to enhance driver accountability, improve service standards, and create a safer travel experience.
Cox’s Bazar Traffic Police urges passengers to participate actively in this initiative by sharing their feedback, which will help make the highway safer and more passenger-friendly.
Visit Online Bus Terminal: https://obtcoxsbazar.com/
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Collected
