The transport fare of CNG-run vehicles has been officially increased in Chittagong city following the price hike of fuel by the government on August 27.
The revised fare came into effect yesterday after transport owners met with police and government authorities concerned and fixed the new rate, sources at the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune. According to the revised rate, the fare has increased by Tk1 in different routes and the minimum fare is Tk5, said several transport workers.
Some drivers were seen carrying the revised fare chart in their vehicles as a proof for the passengers that the rate had indeed been increased.
However, commuters complained about having to pay extra fare to ride vehicles run by oil as well. There were several instances of passengers getting into arguments with conductors and drivers, which in some cases turned into altercations, as the Dhaka Tribune found while visiting different areas around the city.
“I ride the route 6 bus to go to work from Nimtal-Bishwa Road to New Market area, and buses on this route are run by oil. I have always paid Tk7 for bus fare, but today they are asking Tk8-9, claiming their buses are run by CNG as well,” said Saiful Islam Masum, a banker.
When contacted in this regard, Golam Rasul Babul, secretary general of Chittagong City Road Transport Owners Federation, admitted that fare in oil-run transports had indeed been increased.
“The government has increased the price of oil-based fuel twice in the last two years, so we revised the new rate in such a way so that the fare hike in all public transports is the same,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
“The transport owners increased the fare by Tk1 only, instead of Tk1.6 which was fixed by the government.”
However, SM Najer Hossain, president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB)’s Chittagong chapter, accused the transport owners of providing fake information in order to be able to charge passengers extra fare.
“The transport owners are increasing the fare at their whim, because no one is monitoring these things; Neither the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, nor the traffic department of police are monitoring the fare hikes,” he said.