'What can I do? I have to go home': Passengers feel the pinch of higher fares

Homebound passengers faced higher bus fares at Dhaka's Sayedabad Bus Terminal today (24 September), as travellers left the capital for Chattogram, Cumilla, Noakhali, Feni and other destinations ahead of the weekly holiday.

The government recently raised public transport fares following a Tk20-per-litre increase in fuel prices.

At Sayedabad this evening, Hanif, Shyamoli, Saudia, Emad, Sakura, Star Line and other operators were charging fares close to the revised government rates.

Hanif Transport listed fares of Tk700 for Chattogram, Tk1,200 for Cox's Bazar, Tk950 for Rangamati, Tk880 for Kaptai, Tk730 for Khulna and Tk990 for Kuakata.

Shanti Transport was charging Tk850 for Khagrachhari and Tk920 for Dighinala and Panchhari. The government-set fares for a 40-seat bus are Tk864 for Dighinala and Tk876 for Panchhari, with an additional Tk9 for using the Mayor Hanif Flyover.

For many passengers, the fare increases have added to the cost of travelling home.

Mohammad Sazzad, who works for a private company in Mohakhali and was travelling to Amirabad in Chattogram, said the higher fares were difficult to manage.

"It's difficult, but what can I do? I have to go home to my family," he said.

Abhi, a regular traveller between Dhaka and Chattogram, said the impact of higher fuel prices was being felt beyond transport fares.

"It is becoming a burden on us. Because of the rise in fuel prices, not only bus fares but also the prices of food at every hotel have increased," he said.

Transport workers also under pressure

Transport workers said they were also struggling as operating costs rose, while passengers were reluctant to accept higher fares.

Sayedabad counter worker Mohammad Nasir said the prices of tyres, fuel and engine oil had increased, but passengers were unwilling to pay the revised fares.

"Normally, a business-class seat to Cox's Bazar costs Tk1,200. We ask passengers for Tk800, but even then they offer Tk600-700," he said.

Nasir claimed a bus could incur losses of Tk7,000-8,000 on a round trip to Cox's Bazar.

Another counter worker, Kawsar, said passengers were questioning the fare increases.

"Previously, people travelled to Chattogram by AC bus for Tk600. Now we ask for Tk800, and we have to answer thousands of questions from passengers," he said.

The fare dispute was also visible on local buses.

Mousumi, who boarded a Shikhar Paribahan bus from Shahbagh, objected when the driver's assistant demanded Tk30 for the trip to Jatrabari.

"I used to travel for Tk20. Now they can ask for a maximum of Tk25," she said.

The revised fare chart sets the Shahbagh-Jatrabari fare at Tk17.

Shikhar Paribahan driver's assistant Borkan said they had been charging Tk25 since the previous fuel price increase and had now raised the fare to Tk30.