Chittagong District Administration's innovative initiative called 'Smart School Bus' has received the first prize under Smart District Innovation Challenge-2023. The 10 school buses launched by the honorable Prime Minister will start their ceremonial journey on November 27 as smart school buses by providing various technology facilities. Students can go to school from any part of the city by smart school bus for just five taka.
This fare was fixed with the consent of all in the stakeholders' meeting for the ceremonial start of the smart school bus initiative at Chittagong Circuit House on Thursday morning. However, the members of the Smart School Bus Monitoring Committee are of the opinion to increase the fare in order to increase the quality of modern service in the bus. In this context, 5 Taka is fixed this year and 10 Taka
next year.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman said, Hon'ble Prime Minister has gifted Tk 80 lakh for the innovative initiative 'Smart School Bus', it is not for buying buses. For the successful implementation of this initiative.
He said that smart school bus will solve the problems of unbearable traffic jam, suffering of parents, high travel cost, fuel wastage, road accidents, unsafe school journey and loss of working hours of parents in the transportation of students going to various schools in Chittagong city.
The Deputy Commissioner said that under the management of Chittagong district administration, 10 double-decker buses are already plying on different routes of the city to facilitate the transportation of students of 10 government schools. The Smart School Bus will start its ceremonial journey from November 27.
Eminent educationist and writer Abul Momen said in the meeting, parents are worried when our students go out on the streets. He has to be tensed whether the boys and girls have reached school properly or not. Due to Chittagong District Commissioner's smart school bus initiative, now there will be no more tension. Parents do not have to accompany students. They don't have to sit and wait in front of the school.
Smart School Bus will bring the students safely to school and deliver them safely after school holidays. We are constantly facing traffic jams in front of the school due to private vehicles. That will also decrease.
Professor Abdul Alim, former secretary and chairman of Chittagong Education Board, said that smart school buses play an important role in saving time, reducing money and leading a dynamic life. When smart school buses are safe and cost-effective, parents will be motivated to transport students in these buses.
Meanwhile, the Dean of Engineering Faculty of Chittagong University, Professor Dr. Rashed Mustafa shares some smart school bus ideas.
Minhajul Islam, convenor of Smart School Bus Monitoring Team, demanded the movement of 10 more school buses in Patenga, Halishahar and port areas of the city.
In the participants' meeting, head teachers and students of different schools of Chittagong presented their views.
Chittagong District Administration Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Mohammad Sadi Ur Rahim and Chittagong District Administration Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun were present.
