Bus fare increased by 16% in cities

Bus fare was on Saturday increased by 16.27 percent in the metropolitan areas including Dhaka and Chattogram.

The decision was made in a closed-door meeting between the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and bus owners held at the BRTA office in Dhaka.

BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder revealed the new rates after the meeting. The new fare will be effective from Sunday.

The meeting decided to increase the fare for long-haul buses by 22%. 

As per the new fare, passengers will have to pay Tk 2.50 per kilometre in riding city buses and for long haul buses Tk 2.20 per km. 

“However, the lowest rate for intra-city buses and mini-buses will remain the same — Tk 8 to Tk10,” said the BRTA chairman.

Both the parties sat on Saturday evening to decide new bus fares after the government on Friday increased fuel oil prices by 42.5% to 51.6%, the highest in 20 years.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division on Friday increased diesel and kerosene prices by Tk 34 per litre to Tk 114 and octane and petrol prices by Tk 46 per litre to Tk 135 and the new rate took effect at midnight on Saturday.