Bus fares increased by 11 paisa per kilometer

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has announced an immediate increase in fares for diesel-powered buses, effective Thursday.

The decision, finalized after a meeting with transport owners at the Secretariat, raises the fare for long-distance and inter-district routes, including the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor, by 11 paisa per kilometer.

As a result, long-distance bus fares will increase from Tk2.12 to Tk2.23 per kilometer. Similarly, fares for buses and minibuses operating within the Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas will rise from Tk2.42 to Tk2.53 per kilometer. 

The minister clarified that this adjustment applies exclusively to diesel-powered vehicles, meaning CNG-run buses will not see a fare hike.

He also noted that if fuel prices decrease in the future, bus fares will be reduced accordingly. At this time, the government has not made any decisions regarding potential fare increases for rail and waterway transport. 

This fare adjustment follows growing pressure from the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, which recently urged the government to urgently revise transportation costs.

The transport sector has been severely impacted by a recent Tk15 per liter increase in diesel prices, compounded by the rising cost of imported spare parts and overall vehicle maintenance due to the fluctuating dollar exchange rate.

Prior to Thursday’s meeting, the minister had indicated that a final decision on new fares was still pending, but transport leaders stressed that a rationalized fare increase was necessary to maintain the stability of the sector.