Extra fares, uncertainty grip Eid home-goers amid fuel shortage concerns

At least 1.5 crore people have begun leaving the capital, Dhaka, for their native villages to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, expected on 20 or 21 March depending on the moon sighting.

However, uncertainty has cast a shadow over the festive journey this year as bus warn that a potential fuel shortage could disrupt scheduled services.

Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, concerns have emerged among bus owners and passengers over whether long-distance buses will operate normally, due to fears of rising fuel prices and possible supply disruptions.

Visits to Gabtoli and Sayedabad bus terminals yesterday (10 March) revealed complaints from passengers about fare hikes by some operators exploiting the situation. 

At the Ahad Enterprise counter near Gabtoli, non-AC Dhaka–Rangpur tickets were being sold for Tk1,250, despite the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) fare of Tk870. Counter master Shafiqul Islam Swapan defended the increase, citing empty return trips as justification.

Private-sector employee Sajib Hasan struggled to secure tickets two days before Eid and was forced to buy one from the black market for Tk1,700, nearly double the official price.

Meanwhile, many passengers who bought tickets in advance are also facing uncertainty. 

Shahidul Islam, a private employee from Postogola, said two days ago, he bought seven advance tickets from the Unique Paribahan counter in Dholairpar to travel to his hometown Bakerganj in Barishal. 

However, the counter informed him that if a fuel shortage occurs and buses fail to operate on the scheduled day, the ticket price will be refunded.

He said, "Even if the fare increases by Tk100–150, that's not a big problem. The real issue is whether we will be able to travel or not. If I come to the counter with my family and hear that the bus will not go, what will I do then? At that time, tickets will no longer be available."

As a result, even those who purchased tickets in advance are unable to feel assured.

Some operators, like Sohag Paribahan, report minimal difficulties, thanks to their own fuel stations, and are running buses as scheduled.

A bus driver of Sohag Paribahan in Gabtoli said that despite fears of a fuel price hike and supply uncertainty due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, they are operating buses according to the predetermined schedule.

The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity said that the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation's directive to limit fuel sales could worsen passenger hardship during the Eid journey and "encourage fare irregularities."

In a press release issued yesterday, Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury urged uninterrupted fuel supply for transport at least until Eid day. 

Although the government has repeatedly said that fuel stocks are sufficient, panic buying at filling stations has yet to subside.