Govt raises bus, minibus fares by 17 paisa per km

The government has raised bus and minibus fares by 17 paisa per kilometre following the latest increase in fuel prices, with the revised rates made effective from Tuesday.

The Road Transport and Highways Division issued a gazette notification on Wednesday (September 23), setting the new fares for city, inter-district and long-distance routes.

Under the revised rates, bus fares in Dhaka and Chattogram city areas have increased from Tk 2.53 to Tk 2.70 per kilometre per passenger. Fares for buses and minibuses on inter-district and long-distance routes have risen from Tk 2.23 to Tk 2.40 per kilometre.

Minibus fares in Dhaka and Chattogram, along with bus and minibus fares on routes within Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur and Manikganj under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, have been raised from Tk 2.43 to Tk 2.60 per kilometre.

The minimum fare has been set at Tk 10 for buses and Tk 8 for minibuses operating in Dhaka and Chattogram city areas.

The notification also allows proportional fare adjustments for buses or minibuses whose approved seating capacity has been reduced for passenger comfort. Such revised rates must be approved by the relevant route-permit authority or passenger and goods transport committee.

The new rates do not apply to gas-powered buses or minibuses. Operators are also required to display the approved fare chart prominently inside every vehicle.

The revised fares have been made effective from September 22 in response to the increase in fuel prices, according to the notification.