15 paisa bus fare hike per km proposed by Passenger Welfare Association

Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has proposed increasing bus fare by 15 paisa per kilometre following the rise in fuel oil prices. The organisation has demanded that fares be increased at the same rate at which they were reduced when oil prices fell in the past.

The proposal was put forward in a press release on Sunday, April 19.

The release alleged that influential leaders of the Bus Owners' Association, in coordination with the government, are attempting to increase fares unilaterally.

Association Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said they have learned that a secret meeting on fare hikes was being held at the BRTA headquarters on Sunday night, excluding key stakeholders and the media.

He said that in the past, when fuel prices were reduced by Tk 3 per litre on three occasions, bus fares were reduced by 3 paisa per kilometre each time. When the price was reduced by Tk 2, fares were reduced by 2 paisa. Now diesel prices have been increased by Tk 15 per litre. Accordingly, fares could be increased by 15 paisa per kilometre.

Mozammel Haque Chowdhury further said any fare hike beyond this would create public anger and negatively impact the government's popularity.