Owners demand 60per fare hike to operate bus at half capacity in Ctg
13 January 2022, 06:36 pm | Updated: 27 November 2024, 02:39 pm
Bus owners in Chattogram today demanded a 60 per cent hike in fare to run buses at their half capacities as per the government’s instruction to fight off Covid.
“If we have to operate buses keeping 50 per cent seats empty, we want the fare raised by 60 per cent like the previous time,” said Belayet Hossain, General Secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan Bus Owner’s Group.
Though the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) said the directive will be effective from Saturday but bus owners in Chattogram will take decision in this regard after a meeting on it that day, he said.
Monjurul Alam Monju, General Secretary of Chattogram Road Transport Owner’s Group said, “Although the owners incurred losses they carried 50 per cent with 60 per cent increased fare during the lockdown following the government’s instruction.”
If the government wants the bus owners to follow the health guidelines fare need to be raised, otherwise, it will become impossible to operate buses, he said.
On Wednesday, BRTA said buses will operate at half of their capacities from Saturday and at the previous fare. The decision was taken at a meeting with the leaders of transport owners and workers.
