Home
+
Published : 19 Apr 2026, 09:49 PM
Amid a sharp rise in fuel prices, the Passenger Welfare Association has proposed increasing bus fares by Tk 0.15 per kilometre, triggering renewed debate over transport costs and transparency.
The proposal was announced in a media statement on Sunday.
The group said the recommended hike follows the same proportional formula used in the past when fares were reduced after fuel price cuts.
The association’s Secretary General Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury argued that fares should strictly follow the ratio of previous adjustments.
"In the past, fares were reduced by Tk 0.03 when fuel prices dropped by Tk 3, and by Tk 0.02 for a Tk 2 cut,” he said.
“Since diesel prices have now risen by Tk 15 per litre, the increase should logically be no more than Tk 0.15 per kilometre," Mozammel added.
He warned that "managing" the bureaucracy to impose excessive fares would trigger public outrage and erode the government’s popularity, urging the premier to intervene.
In a memorandum submitted to the ministries of road transport and shipping, the organisation criticised the current BNP-led administration for allegedly mirroring the tactics of the previous "fascist regime".
The association claimed the transport ministry lacks a panel of independent experts, allowing owners to present self-serving fare charts that the ministry then approves.
The group demanded the immediate restructuring of the bus and launch fare determination committee to include passenger and consumer representatives in proportion to the number of owners.
The statement said it was an immediate reaction to what the organisation described as a secret move to raise fares in public transport.
