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Monday | September 28, 2026 | Dhaka

Fare Chaos Sparks Call to Protect Passengers

 New Nation
 Published: 12:56 AM, 28 September 2026

THE chaotic situation regarding fares across all modes of transport, resulting from the hike in fuel prices, is alarming.

According to a report published in a national newspaper yesterday, bus passengers are being charged arbitrary fares, with the government-mandated revised rates being completely disregarded.

Even water vessels, including launches, are failing to comply with the directives.

Allegations have arisen regarding the charging of exorbitant fares for goods-carrying vehicles such as trucks, covered vans, and pickups.

Naturally, the suffering of passengers has reached an indescribable level under these circumstances.

We have observed that the government fixed bus and launch fares immediately after the price of all types of fuel oil was raised by Tk 20 per litre on Monday.

The next day (Tuesday), bus fares were increased by 17 poisha per kilometer. On Wednesday, a decision was made to raise launch fares by 23 poisha per kilometer.

Additionally, for distances exceeding 100 kilometers, the fare was increased by 20 poisha per kilometer. Concurrently, the minimum fare for water transport was raised from Taka 32 to Taka 35.

However, every bus is collecting fares at its own discretion, and such arbitrary behaviour has led to altercations-and eventually physical scuffles-between passengers and the bus drivers and their assistants.

Similarly, launch passengers are also falling victim to the arbitrary actions of owners and staff.

It is worth noting that fuel prices were raised by Tk 15 last April-five months ago.

At that time, bus fares were increased by 11 poisha per kilometer, and truck freight charges also went up. Even then, drivers and their assistants charged fares arbitrarily.

We observe that the government considers its duty fulfilled merely by raising fares; passengers are paying the price for the administration’s lack of oversight on the ground.

Appropriate measures must be taken against those charging fares higher than the prescribed rates by conducting mobile courts on roads and waterways, in coordination with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), and law enforcement agencies.

They must ensure that the list of government-fixed fares is clearly displayed in every bus, launch, and ticket counter.

We believe that disregarding government directives and subjecting passengers to suffering is evidence of the chaos prevailing in the transport sector.

Transport owners must also play a responsible role in this regard.

A resolution to this long-standing crisis is possible through coordinated measures involving the BRTA, law enforcement agencies, and transport owner-worker associations to alleviate passenger suffering.