Bus Fares Rise in Metropolitan and Long-Distance Routes
The increase in fuel prices has affected public transport fares. Bus fares on long-distance routes and in metropolitan areas have been increased by 17 paisa per kilometre. The decision to adjust the fares was announced after a meeting between the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and transport owners on Tuesday.
Ruling-party lawmaker and Nationalist Workers Party Central Committee Chief Coordinator Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas said transport owners would reach an agreement with the BRTA. “They will charge three paisa less in all areas, including metropolitan cities and districts,” he said.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Rabiul Alam said, “According to the calculation, a one-taka increase leads to a one-paisa increase. After negotiating with and convincing the transport owners and explaining the situation to them, a decision was made to increase the fare by 17 paisa. The fare will increase by 17 paisa per kilometre due to the Tk 20-per-litre increase in fuel prices. That is what has been determined.”
“Any fare increase puts pressure on people. But considering the situation, we have been able to keep the fare increase resulting from the rise in fuel prices lower than what would be considered reasonable,” he said.
Under the new decision, bus fares on long-distance and metropolitan routes will increase by 17 paisa per kilometre. As a result, passengers on various metropolitan and long-distance routes, including those in the capital, will have to pay higher fares than before.
Earlier, following the government’s decision to increase fuel prices, transport owners proposed on Monday that bus fares also be raised. They proposed to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority that bus fares be increased by 18 to 20 paisa per kilometre. The recommendation was made at a meeting of the fare adjustment committee at the BRTA headquarters in Banani, Dhaka, on Monday evening.
In April, diesel prices were increased by Tk 15 per litre. At the time, bus fares were increased by 11 paisa per kilometre. Before the latest increase, bus fares in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas stood at Tk 2.53 per kilometre, while the fare for minibuses was Tk 2.42 per kilometre.
On long-distance routes, the fare for 52-seat buses was Tk 2.23 per kilometre. Following the latest 17-paisa increase, bus fares will now be revised accordingly.
