Different social and political organizations have expressed concern over the bus fare hike by 60 percent. They said, such decision will create pressure on common people as they have already been facing economic crisis amid coronavirus.
It is to be noted, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has proposed to increase all inter-district bus services by 80 percent as vehicles are allowed to carry only 50 percent passenger of its total capacity to ensure social distancing amid Covid- 19 outbreak.
However, after sending the proposal to Road Transport and Bridge Ministry, based on Prime Minister’s approval, the ministry published gazette increasing the fare by 60 percent.
To this regard, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader while talking to the officials of the Road Transport and Highways Division through videoconferencing from his official residence said, “The ministry has fixed bus fares at rational rates amid the coronavirus crisis, minimising the proposed fares of BRTA”.
However, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal central committee’s general secretary Comrade Khalequzzaman in a written statement said, such bus fare hike is illegal and illogical, in this pandemic situation, it’s an additional burden which is being imposing on mass people shoulder.
Jatri Adhikar Andolan (Passenger Rights Movement) in statement said, the decision to forcibly increase the fare by 80 per cent on public transport is a farce with ordinary passengers. The organisation has demanded for immediate change of such proposal.
He said, “During this general holiday to halt the spread of the deadly virus, people's economic condition is already in miserable stage”. In this situation, he demanded to reconsider such decision.
He further blamed the BRTA that, “When BTRA is unable to do something against vehicles without fitness, how will they confirm social distance and health measures in public transport”.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said, “Due to long general holiday, mass people are already in financial crisis as many of them have become unemployed, in this situation, bus fare hike can't be acceptable”.
CAB president Ghulam Rahman told Bangladesh Post, “As oil price reduced in international market, if we also reduce the oil price, then there will be no need to increase transport fare. During such pandemic situation, increasing bus fare is illogical”.
Bangladesh Jatri Kallayan Samity director general Mozzamel Haque Chowdhury while talking to Bangladesh Post said, “Relaxing lockdown without proper health safety measures has already created a threat for mass people's movement, on the other hand, without considering a good number of issues like oil price, providing health hygiene training for vehicle staff members, and stooping anarchy on roads and highways by vehicle owners association, such vehicle fare hike will lead an untoward situation among passengers and vehicles staff members on the street”.
Earlier on Thursday last, the government decided to allow public transports, including buses, trains and inland water vessels, to resume services from Sunday abiding by social distancing rules and health directives.
However, Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association’s director general Khandaker Enayet Ullah said, "When a vehicle is going to carry half of its capacities, there should not be any arguments to pay additional fare, deciding by the government."
