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Published : 18 Mar 2026, 10:18 PM
The Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association has alleged widespread overcharging on buses and minibuses during the Eid travel rush, contradicting the road transport minister’s assertion that operators are adhering to government-fixed fares.
The association said fares have been increased on 87 percent of buses and minibuses this season, with intercity travellers alone paying an estimated Tk 1.218 billion in excess.
The group warned that the scale of irregularities could surpass records seen over the past two decades.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, however, dismissed such claims during a visit to the Gabtoli Bus Terminal on Wednesday.
“Operators are charging the fixed fare. In some cases, fares are even Tk 20 to Tk 30 lower than the set rates, which is beneficial for passengers,” he said.
But the association’s Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, in a statement issued the same day, said field observations conducted between Mar 14 and 18 revealed a very different picture.
According to the statement, government directives are being widely ignored, with “a state of chaos” prevailing in fare collection.
The practice of charging excess fares has also spread to city bus services in Dhaka and other urban centres, it added.
The organisation also alleged that despite similar complaints on river routes, authorities have repeatedly denied the situation, often echoing the stance of transport operators.
The association estimates that around four million inter-district trips will be made by bus and minibus during Eid, alongside roughly six million trips on city services.
Its findings suggest that on most major routes, fares have risen sharply.
Tickets from Dhaka to Pabna and Natore, typically priced between Tk 550 and Tk 600, are being sold for Tk 1,200.
Fares to Rangpur have tripled from Tk 500 to Tk 1,500, while journeys to Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Ramganj have also seen steep increases.
Local routes have not been spared.
The Dhaka-Mymensingh fare, usually Tk 250, has climbed to Tk 600, while trips to Khulna now cost Tk 800 instead of Tk 500.
In Chattogram, fares to Lakshmipur and Bhola have doubled.
In some cases, passengers travelling by truck or pick-up on short routes are being charged as much as Tk 500 per head.
It also accused some operators of manipulating seat categories, charging higher rates for larger-capacity buses, and applying inflated fares regardless of fuel type.
Passengers are also reportedly being compelled to purchase tickets for destinations beyond their intended stops.
Travellers to Chattogram, for instance, are being told that tickets are only available if booked to further points such as Satkania, Chakaria, or Bandarban.
Similar practices have been reported on northern routes.
Based on its estimates, around 87 percent of intercity passengers are paying an average of Tk 350 extra per journey, amounting to Tk 1.218 billion in additional costs.
For city services, if the same proportion of passengers pays an average of Tk 50 extra per trip, the added burden would stand at roughly Tk 261 million.
In total, the organisation estimates that excess fare collection from bus and minibus passengers could reach nearly Tk 1.48 billion during this Eid season, surpassing records seen over the past two decades.
