Nationwide strike called off after re-fixing fare

The bus strike, which started on Friday demanding the rise of bus fare, has been lifted on Sunday evening.

Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association’s General Secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah confirmed the matter to the media after a meeting at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) building in the capital on Sunday.

He said that following the rise of the bus fares, the nationwide bus strike has been called off.

In connection to this, all the buses across the country can operate from Sunday evening.

Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a press release re-fixing the fare of bus and minibus.

According to the re-fixed fare, diesel-run inter-district and long-route buses and mini-buses can realize a maximum Taka 1.80 fare per kilometer from every passenger which is now Taka 1.42. So, Taka 0.38 has been increased per kilometer bus fare. 

For diesel-run buses and mini-buses in Dhaka and Chattogram cities, Taka 2.15 and Taka 2.05 fare have been re-fixed for per kilometer for every passenger which is now Taka 1.70 and Taka 1.60 respectively for buses and minibuses. So, Taka 0.45 fare has been extended for both buses and mini-buses per kilometer.

Per kilometer, Taka 2.05 fare has been re-fixed for both buses and mini-buses in districts under Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority for every passenger.

The minimum fare for buses and minibuses has been re-fixed as Taka 10 and Taka 8.

Petrol, octane and gas-run vehicles will not be under the purview of the extended fare.

The new fare rate will be effective from November 8.

Earlier on November 4, owners and workers of public and goods transports have called for a nationwide strike from Friday morning in protest against the latest price hike of diesel and kerosene oil.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government increased diesel and kerosene oil prices by Tk 15 per liter considering the rising fuel prices in the global market.

ARR