Yesterday was the first day after new fares of CNG-run buses came into effect in Dhaka. But already passengers are alleging that diesel-run buses are also charging them higher fares without any reason and notice.
Until yesterday, almost none of the intra-Dhaka transport companies put up fare-charts – which are mandatory – in their vehicles.
Debashish Nag, an executive magistrate of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said that he had fined three buses for collecting excess fare without having fare-charts.
However, there is no reason for those vehicles that run on fuel oil to raise fares.
Transport company Dhaka Paribahan that operates on the Dhaka-Gazipur route, has 55 minibuses, of which only 20 are powered by CNG; the rest are all diesel powered.
Yesterday, regular passengers who use Dhaka Paribahan’s buses found out that the company had raised the fare for Dhaka-Gazipur by Tk5 for all its vehicles. Until Wednesday, the fare was Tk50; yesterday, the passengers were charged Tk55, that too without any notice.
Azizul, driver of a Dhaka Paribahan bus, said: “The owners decided to implement the new fare. So, we are following their decision.”