Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association has proposed a substantial 40% hike in bus fares across all metropolitan, inter-district, and long-distance routes, including Dhaka and Chattogram.
The association attributes the demand to the rising costs of spare parts driven by the devaluation of the local currency against the dollar.
In anticipation of the meeting scheduled for 21 January, to be chaired by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali, transport leaders plan to present their recommendations to the Regional Transport Committee (RTC) in Dhaka.
Kazi Jubayer Masud, office secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association, stated, "The last fare adjustment in 2022 was based on a dollar rate of Tk106, which has since risen to Tk122. Consequently, the costs of spare parts and maintenance have escalated significantly. Our operational expenses have also increased, necessitating a minimum fare hike of 40% across all routes."
In August 2022, the Road Transport and Highways Division had set the maximum fare at Tk2.15 per kilometre for inter-district and long-distance buses and Tk2.45 per kilometre for buses operating within Dhaka and Chattogram.
Fare adjustment in April 2024 saw a reduction due to the then-government’s diesel price cut, with fares revised to Tk2.12 per kilometre for inter-district and long-distance routes, and Tk2.42 for metropolitan routes.
Transport owners argue that the current fare rates no longer reflect the operational realities, pushing for an urgent revision to cover the increased costs and ensure sustainable transport services.
