Noman Mosharef :
The public transports in the capital Dhaka are charging more fare defying the government’s set bus fare.
The passengers from different city service have claimed that the conductors are charging more than what the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has fixed for all routes.
After a meeting with transport leaders on Wednesday, BRTA has decided to reduce bus fare by Tk0.05 (5 paisa) per kilometre after the price of fuel oil had been reduced by Tk5 per litre.
As per the new decision, intercity bus fare was fixed Tk2.45 per kilometre and long-distance bus fare fixed at Tk2.15.
The minimum bus and mini buses fare in Dhaka have been fixed Tk 10 and Tk 8 respectively.
The city services’ like Dishari, Tanzil, Trans Silva, Bahoan, Khaza Baba, Bikolpo, Shikhor, Bihongo, Ramzan, Raida and others are charging more fare from the passengers.
Md Rashedul Haque regularly traveles by Dishari Poribhahan from Paltan to Mirpur-1.
He said if the government increased Tk 5, the bus conductor has charged from us more than Tk10. Even though, they did not follow the government bus fare chart.
He said the authority has reduced bus fare, but the bus companies are charging more from the commuters.
Almost all routes’ passengers in capital Dhaka have claimed about the extra fare of bus.
Nishat Sultans, a private service holder who travels by Ramzan Paribhahan from Science Lab to Banasri area claimed that the conductor has charged Tk5-10 more as government has fixed the bus fare.
She further claimed that the bus operators did not hang or paste the govt. fixed fare chart in the bus.
A large portion of city commuters have accused the authority for insufficient vigilant team on the road.
They said if the BRTA authority operates the mobile court regularly and fined them, the discipline would come in the sector.
A few passengers have suggested that the authority should have ensured police and concern authorities contract number in the fare chart for inform irregularities.
When contacted over the issue, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri told the New Nation those who brace the government direction stern action will be taken against them
He said if the allegation got valid the license of those will be cancelled.
ABM Amin Ullah Nuri said we will operate more mobile court for bringing discipline in the sector.
On 29 August diesel tax was cut by 10% resulting in a flat Tk5 decline in prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and octane per litre – a downward adjustment, which users and experts find less than what should have been.
On 5 August, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division hiked diesel and kerosene prices by Tk34 per litre to Tk114 and octane and petrol prices by Tk46 per litre to Tk135 and Tk130, respectively.
The authorities on August 7 increased the fare for long-distance buses by 22% to Tk2.2 per kilometre, fare for buses in Dhaka by 16.27% to Tk2.50 per kilometre and fare for buses outside the capital by 17% to Tk2.4 following an increase in fuel oil prices.
