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Bus fares on long-distance routes and in the Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas have been increased by 17 paisa per kilometre following the latest hike in fuel prices.
The decision was taken at a meeting with transport owners at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Tuesday.
Under the revised rates, long-distance bus fares will rise from Tk 2.23 to Tk 2.40 per kilometre, while fares for buses operating in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas will increase from Tk 2.53 to Tk 2.70 per kilometre.
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) had earlier proposed a 20-paisa-per-kilometre increase for long-distance buses and an 18-paisa increase for metropolitan services following the government’s Tk 20-per-litre hike in fuel prices.
Pabna-5 MP Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas told reporters at the Secretariat that he expected a government notification on the revised fares to be issued on Tuesday.
He said transport owners’ associations had been instructed to take action against operators who charged higher fares before the new rates were officially approved. Administrative action would also be taken against those responsible, he added.
Bus fares were last increased by 11 paisa per kilometre in April after diesel prices rose by Tk 15 per litre. Before the latest adjustment, fares in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas stood at Tk 2.53 per kilometre, while the fare for minibuses was Tk 2.42.
For 52-seat long-distance buses, the previous fare was Tk 2.23 per kilometre. However, many non-AC long-distance operators have reduced seating capacity to 40 or fewer seats, resulting in comparatively higher fares per passenger. Bridge and road tolls are also added to the fare on some routes.
The latest adjustment follows the government’s decision to raise the prices of diesel, petrol, octane and kerosene by Tk 20 per litre.