The Bangladesh Road Transport
Authority (BRTA) had proposed on Monday that fares be increased by Tk 0.20 per kilometre for intercity buses
and Tk 0.18 per kilometre for city
services.
However, Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas,
lawmaker from Pabna-5 and chief coordinator of the central committee of the
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, said the authorities decided to keep the
increase at Tk 0.17 per kilometre in consideration of public interest.
According to the government
calculation, the fare would increase by Tk 0.20. But considering public
interest, it was decided to charge Tk 0.03 less. So the increase will be Tk
0.17 per kilometre, he said.
He said bus owners would sit
with BRTA to finalise the matter and sign an agreement. The Tk 0.03 reduction
from the proposed increase will apply to all routes at the metropolitan and
district levels. A gazette notification could be issued today, he added.
Even a one-paisa increase in
fare puts an additional burden on the public, Shimul Biswas said. If anyone
has already raised fares before the decision was finalised, the owners’
association will take disciplinary action. The matter will also be monitored by
the administration and the association.
In April, diesel prices were
increased by Tk 15 per litre,
following which bus fares were raised by Tk
0.11 per kilometre.
Before the latest adjustment,
bus fares in Dhaka and Chattogram
metropolitan areas stood at Tk 2.53 per kilometre, while the fare for minibuses was
Tk 2.42 per kilometre.
On intercity routes, the fare
for a 52-seat bus was Tk 2.23 per kilometre.
However, many non-AC
intercity buses now operate with reduced seating capacity, with seats cut to 40
or fewer. Fares on these buses are comparatively higher, while bridge and road
tolls are also added to the cost.
With the latest decision to raise fares by Tk
0.17 per kilometre, fares for both intercity and city bus services will be revised accordingly.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Published Date : September 22, 2026
