The government has increased fares of inter-district and long routes (Dhaka, Chittagong cities and adjoining areas) bus and minibuses by 60 percent to compensate bus owners carrying 50 percent less passengers to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
The passengers have to pay additional fares will be effective from Monday (June 1), said a gazette notification issued by the Road, Transport and Bridges Ministry on May 31.
The notification said the additional fares for inter-district and long routes buses and minibuses will be increased by 60 from existing Tk 1.42 for a kilometer.
The extra 60 percent fare will be added to the existing bus, minibus fares of Tk 7 and Tk 5 in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan cities respectively, the notification said.
Each passenger must take a seat and keep the adjacent seat empty and no bus and minibus will be allowed to carry over 50 percent passengers.
This extra bus fare will only be applicable during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the notification adding that after this pandemic, the bus fares will be readjusted as per the previous rates.
Read more on this article here
Earlier, the fare committee of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) recommended increasing the fares of all buses, including, inter-district bus services, by 80%.
On Thursday, the government decided to allow public transports, including buses, trains, and inland water vessels, to resume services from Sunday while abiding by social distancing rules and health directives.
Recently in separate meetings with transport owners on Friday, BRTA and BIWTA decided to resume public transports.
