The decision to increase bus fares

News Desk: It has been decided to increase the bus fare by increasing the price of diesel. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has decided to increase the long-distance bus fare from Tk 1.42 per km to Tk 1.80 and from Tk 1.60 to Tk 2.15 in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The decision was taken at a meeting with transport owners at the BRTA office in Dhaka's Banani around 11:30 am on Sunday amid a three-day nationwide strike demanding a fare hike.

It was informed in the press briefing after the meeting that the bus fare has also been increased due to the increase in diesel price. The distance has been fixed at Tk 1.60 per kg. And in the metropolis 2 rupees 15 paise per kilo has been fixed. The new decision will take effect from tomorrow (Monday).

As per the decision of the meeting, the bus fare in the metropolis has been fixed at a minimum of Tk 8 and Tk 10. However, the fare of any CNG-powered vehicle will not increase.

On November 3, the government increased the price of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter to Tk 75 to 80. The notification was effective from 12 noon on the same day. The people of the country erupted in anger from the next day. From people of different classes and professions to students, political parties and social organizations have also started reacting angrily.

Transport owners and workers have been on strike across the country since Friday (November 5th) morning in protest of rising diesel prices. The transport strike has paralyzed the entire country. Ordinary people have been held hostage in the transport strike for three days. Being a victim of boundless misery.

The meeting at the BRTA office in Dhaka's Banani began at around 11:30 am on Sunday amid a three-day nationwide strike demanding a fare hike.

The meeting was chaired by BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder and was attended by Khandaker Enayet Ullah, Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, Rakesh Ghosh, Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association, representatives of government and non-government organizations including Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation.

In 2015, the government fixed the bus fare for urban transport at Tk 1.60 per km and for minibuses at Tk 1.60 per km. In 2016, the fare for long-distance diesel-powered buses and minibuses was set at Tk 1.42.

Comments (0)