CNG-run bus operators hike fare despite govt directive

Bus owners have increased fares on all routes in the capital following price hike of compressed natural gas (CNG). Ticket sellers stamp increased fares on tickets at a bus stop near the Jatiya Press Club.Photo: STAR

The CNG-run bus operators continue to charge extra fares ignoring the government directive, leading to heated rows between the passengers and bus staffs in many places in the capital yesterday.
As a result, the authorities were forced to deploy police at different bus stops in the city.
Besides, a mobile court of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) also started a drive against the CNG-run bus services charging increased fare.
The Association of CNG Bus Companies (ABC) is going to hold a press conference today demanding increase in bus fares.
Regular commuters from Mirpur-10, 6 and 7, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Agargaon and Taltala locked horns with the staffs of the CNG-run buses, as they demanded Tk 1 to 5 extra to the previous fare.
The picture was similar at other ticket counters from Mirpur to Gulistan.
Five CNG-run bus operators stopped their operations after 1:00pm protesting police interventions, staffs of the bus services told The Daily Star.
The passengers had to face immense sufferings when the buses of Shatabdi, Mega, Raja City, Trans Silva and Maitree services stopped plying the roads.
"It's an anarchy. I don't know how I will maintain my family in this situation…price hike of essentials followed by increase in bus fares…its really unbearable," Munira Begum, a garment worker, told The Daily Star while buying ticket for Farmgate from Karnaphuli bus counter at Taltala.
Staffs of this bus service at Mirpur were forced to sell tickets at the previous rate following protests by the aggrieved passengers.
Ticket sellers Nazrul and Saiful of Shatabdi Paribahan and Ekushey Paribahan admitted that they have been facing the anger of the passengers due to higher fares.
"We are helpless, as our companies have instructed us to raise the fares," they said.
BRTA mobile court reinforced by Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday filed cases against 93 buses and seized four buses for demanding increased fares. The court also fined Tk 12,000 in five cases and arrested two bus staffs.
Police detained two ticket sellers of Trans Silva bus service for charging higher fares, but they were released later.
The ABC will hold a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club today and place their demand of raising the bus fares.
"If the government does not increase the fare, we will give our buses to it," ABC member Mafizul Islam told The Daily Star last night.
On April 24, the government increased the price of CNG (compressed natural gas) from Tk 8:50 to Tk 16.75 per cubic metre.
Two days later, it adjusted the fares of the CNG-run three-wheelers and taxicabs, but gave directions for not hiking the fares of CNG-run buses.