BRTA proposes bus fare hike

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has recommended raising bus fares by 20 paisa per kilometre for intercity services and 18 paisa per kilometre for city services following the latest increase in fuel prices.

However, the proposed fare adjustment will not affect the existing minimum fares. The minimum fare will remain Tk10 for buses and Tk8 for minibuses.

The recommendation came at a meeting of the fare adjustment committee held at the BRTA office in Banani on Monday. The committee discussed the impact of the recent fuel price increase on public transport operators and considered a corresponding adjustment in fares.

If approved, the proposed hike will apply to fares calculated on a per-kilometre basis for both intercity and city bus services. The unchanged minimum fares mean passengers travelling short distances will continue to pay at least Tk10 on buses and Tk8 on minibuses.

The fare adjustment proposal is expected to be placed before the relevant authorities for consideration before any new fare structure comes into effect. Until a final decision is announced, existing bus fares will remain applicable.

Transport operators have long argued that rising fuel and operating costs are putting pressure on their businesses, while passenger groups have raised concerns over the impact of higher fares on commuters.

The proposed adjustment comes as authorities seek to balance the rising costs of public transport operations with the financial burden on passengers.