Bus fares rise by 17 paisa per kilometre

Bus fares have increased by 17 paisa per kilometre following the rise in prices of all types of petroleum fuel, with the new rates coming into effect from today.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced the decision while speaking to reporters in front of the ministry at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

The minister made the announcement while speaking to reporters in front of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

With the 17-paisa increase, the fare for intercity buses has risen from Tk2.23 to Tk2.40 per kilometre, while the fare for buses in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas has increased from Tk2.53 to Tk2.70 per kilometre.

Earlier, Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam held a meeting with leaders of the Road Transport Owners Association to discuss the adjustment of bus fares.

Before the decision, Nationalist Workers Party chief coordinator and MP Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas said there was a policy for adjusting bus fares based on fuel price increases, prepared by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), BUET and other relevant government and expert institutions.

He said although fares could be increased according to the policy, the government was considering passengersÕ ability to pay and had therefore taken an initiative to set the increase somewhat below the proposed rate.

Shimul Biswas said a proposal had been made to increase bus fares by 20 paisa per kilometre based on the rise in fuel prices.

However, considering public interest, the rate was reduced by three paisa to 17 paisa per kilometre, he said, adding that the fare adjustment would be finalised in consultation with the BRTA.