The revised fares for CNG-run buses and minibuses in the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong, along with several other districts, will come into effect from today.
The new fare for CNG-run auto-rickshaws, however, will be enforced from November 1.
The districts where the new rates would be effective are Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, Manikganj and Narsingdi.
According to the new rates, bus passengers will have to pay Tk1.70 for each kilometre of travel instead of the existing Tk1.60, while minibus fares will be Tk1.60 per kilometre from the existing Tk1.50. The existing minimum fare – Tk7 and Tk5 for bus and minibus respectively – will not be changed.
However, commuters expressed their concerns that bus operators would take advantage of the lack of monitoring and overcharge them.
Transport and Highways Division Secretary MAN Siddique said: “A high-powered committee headed by the director (administration) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has already been formed to monitor possible anomalies, such as passengers being charged extra.