Major bus operators accept new fare rate, resume services tomorrow

Major bus operators have accepted the new bus fare rate "considering passengers' side" and already started selling ticket from counters.

Romesh Chandra Ghosh, chairman of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association, said he has accepted the new fare rate as the government issued it considering people's economic hardships.

"But many of our owners are not willing to operate buses following the new rate. But I am trying to convince them. We will operate buses from tomorrow," Romesh, also the managing director of Shyamoli Paribahan, told The Daily Star this evening.

Shyamoli Paribahan has started selling tickets, he said.

Khondaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said, "We have accepted the new rate considering passenger's side and started selling tickets." He urged the passengers to help them to maintain health and safety guidelines.

Musharraf Hossain, general manager of Hanif Paribhan, said they already prepared necessary papers and printed tickets raising the fare by 80 percent, but now they have to change it, causing delay in ticket sales.

"However, we will resume operation from tomorrow morning," he said.

The government today reset bus fares across the country, increasing it by 60 percent. The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a circular in this regard today. Bus owners had demanded double the fares as they have to carry passengers at half capacity to maintain health and safety guidelines.

BRTC to resume operations from tomorrow with new fare rate

State-run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) will also resume operations from tomorrow and will charge 60 percent more than the existing fare, Amzad Hossain, BRTC spokesperson told The Daily Star tonight.

Road Transport and Bridges Ministry has asked BRTC to resume operations following all necessary health safety guidelines and they have transmitted the order to all depots, he said.

He said they also given directives to all depots to take necessary steps to ensure health and safety of all their drivers and staffers.

Replying to a question, he said, "We will charge 60 percent more than the existing fare like other public transport, as per the government decision."

Like other public transport, BRTC's bus services were suspended from March 26.