Writ petition challenges govt decision to hike bus fare

A rights organisation today filed a writ petition with the high court, challenging the government's decision to increase bus fares by 60 percent.

Law and Life Foundation submitted the writ petition as a public interest litigation to the high court through an email seeking stay on the gazette notification issued by the government in this regard.

The High Court may virtually hold hearing on the petition later in the day, Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallob, chairman of Law and Life Foundation, told The Daily Star.

The government yesterday issued a gazette notification increasing the fares of all buses, including inter-district bus services, by 60 percent as the vehicles are allowed to carry half the number of passengers of the total seats to maintain social distancing amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

The gazette notification said fares of the buses and minibuses running for long routes will be increased by 60 percent on the existing rate (Tk1.42 per kilometre).