Long-distance buses hike fares before govt decision, passengers complain

Passengers on several long-distance routes were being charged Tk50 to Tk100 more even before the government announced new fares following the latest fuel price hike, triggering disputes between passengers and transport operators at ticket counters.

The situation was observed at the capital's Jatrabari and Sayedabad bus terminals today (22 September).

The government yesterday evening decided to raise fares for long-route and metropolitan buses by Tk0.17 per kilometre, a day after prices of all types of petroleum fuel were increased by Tk20 per litre.

However, transport operators on several long-distance routes had already started overcharging passengers before the government announcement. On the Dhaka-Maijdee route, for example, the fare has increased from Tk600 to Tk650 per passenger.

A passenger named Auwal, who was travelling to Noakhali with his family, said, "Two days ago, I paid Tk600. Today, they are charging Tk50 more. They are not reducing even a single taka."

Passengers on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route were also being charged Tk50 to Tk100 more than the previous fare.

Govt decides to raise long-route, city bus fares by 17 poisha per km

Imran, a passenger travelling towards Sylhet, said, "Two months ago, I travelled from Sylhet to Dhaka for Tk500. Today, I have to pay Tk600 to go home. I am not even going as far as Sylhet city, but I cannot get a ticket for less than Tk600."

Passengers travelling from Sayedabad-Jatrabari to Barishal and Khulna were also paying Tk50 more than the previous fares.

Passengers said they understood that the fuel price hike could push up transport costs, but operators' decision to raise fares before the government fixed new rates had added to their financial burden.

Asked why they were charging higher fares before the government announced the new rates, bus operators said they had to buy fuel at higher prices from petrol stations and were increasing fares to offset the additional fuel costs.

Ticket sellers also said fares would be adjusted once the government fixed the new rates.

Meanwhile, considering the impact of the fuel price hike, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has proposed increasing long-distance bus fares by 8 paisa per kilometre, city bus fares by 10 paisa per kilometre and launch fares by 5 paisa per nautical mile.