The road transport and bridges ministry on Thursday hiked diesel-powered bus fares by Tk 0.11 a kilometre after the government increased fuel oil prices five days ago.

The increase came into effect same day after the Road Transport and Highways Division under the ministry issued a circular in this regard.

Earlier, the transport owners proposed hiking bus fares by Tk 0.28 a kilometre while the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority sent a proposal to the ministry to raise bus fares by Tk 0.22 a kilometre.

While announcing the increase in bus fares, road transport and bridges minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, also the minister for railways and shipping ministries, said that they had adjusted the bus fares considering demands of all stakeholders concerned.

‘Considering public interest, we decided to increase bus fares by Tk 0.11 a kilometre in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan cities, inter-district routes and Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority areas,’ he said.

He also said that they were not considering hiking train and launch fares till now.

The minister made the announcements at an opinion sharing with journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital Dhaka after holding a meeting with transport owners.

Different consumer and passenger rights organisations praised the government for not bowing down to the demand of the transport owners to increase bus fares excessively.

According to the circular issued by the RTHD, following the section 34(2) of the Road Transport Act, 2018, the government has re-set the maximum fares of diesel-powered buses and minibuses in view of the increase in the price of diesel and the current operating costs.

The fare of buses running in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan cities has been increased by 4.54 per cent to Tk 2.53 a kilometre from Tk 2.42.

The fare of diesel-powered buses and minibuses running on inter-district and long routes has been increased by 5.19 per cent to Tk 2.23 a kilometre from Tk 2.12.

The minimum bus and minibus fares have been kept unchanged at Tk 10 and Tk 8 respectively in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan cities.

The fares of buses and minibuses running in Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority areas — Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Manikganj and Dhaka districts — have been increased by 4.74 per cent to Tk 2.43 a kilometre from Tk 2.32.

If the number of seats in a bus or minibus is reduced by lowering the number of seats approved by the BRTA for comfortable travel, the circular said, the fares would be re-determined and approved proportionately by the route permit approving authority (BRTA) or passenger and goods transport committee.

This fare rate will not be applicable to gas-powered buses and minibuses and this fare rate must be displayed in a visible place on every bus and minibus.

All previously issued notifications or orders regarding the determination of fares for the diesel-powered buses and minibuses were revoked.

‘The rate, issued in the public interest, will be effective from April 23,’ the circular added.

At the opinion sharing, Rabiul Alam said that the transport owners gave proposal to hike bus fares by Tk 0.28 a kilometre considering the hike in dollar price, maintenance cost and prices of spare parts.

Later a proposal was given by the BRTA to the ministry to increase bus fares by Tk 0.22 a kilometre.

The minister said that the transport owners made pledge to follow the new fares.

The opinion sharing event was attended, among others, by state minister for the Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid and secretary Mohammed Ziaul Haque, and senior officials of the ministry. 

In a statement, issued on Thursday, non-government organisation Consumers Association of Bangladesh thanked the government for playing a role in protecting the interests of the common people by not giving in to the demands of the owners in determining bus fares.

The association also urged the road transport ministry to form a monitoring team to implement the new fares and prevent charging of additional fares.

In another statement, issued on Thursday, the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh, a passenger right-based non-government organisation, expressed its gratitude to prime minister Tarique Rahman and the road transport minister for giving priority to the interests of the common people of the country instead of bowing down to the anti-people demands made by bus owners in determining fares.

Earlier in 2022, the government adjusted bus fares, which were largely flouted by transport owners.