Public transport fare hike unacceptable: CAB
CAB thanked the government and launch owners for not hiking launch fare
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said on Saturday the recommendation for fare hike of long-route buses of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) was imprudent and not acceptable.
The association also said imposing extra fare on passengers to recover the loss of public transport due to Covid-19 was not acceptable, reads a press release signed by CAB president Golam Rahman.
Golam Rahman said the BRTA held a meeting on Saturday to fix fare for its long route buses, and according to the media, 80 percent price hike was recommended in the meeting.
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As half of the seats of buses will remain vacant, the government can subsidies bus owners, declare stimulus packages or bank loans at a small interest rate, similar to what the government has done for other industries, so that bus owners do not face any loss, he suggested.
Fuel oil price is the lowest in the world in the last few decades, and if the fuel price is coordinated along with international markets, we do not need to hike the fare, rather it is possible to decrease the fare. The government has to ensure people are not overburdened with extra fare amid Covid-19 crisis, he said.
Bus fare hike will affect other sectors too, which will lead to inflation, causing harm to our economy and our livelihood cost will increase, he opined.
Golam Rahman thanked the government and launch owners for not hiking launch fare.
