Bus fare may increase up to 11pc: Minister
Staff correspondent
Communications Minister Nazmul Huda yesterday hinted that the bus fare might be increased up to 11 percent, instead of 18 percent that a committee tasked to fix the enhanced fare recommended last week."We shall still review the recommendation," he told the BBC radio yesterday evening. The fare will be finalised by September 14, the minister said at a meeting with Bangladesh Road Transport Association and Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners' Association. The transport owners, however, were insistent on increasing from existing 72-paisa per kilometre bus fare to Tk 1.1 and 75-paisa per kilometre minibus fare to Tk 1.15. They gave an ultimatum to the government that ends on September 15. Nazmul Huda suggested the transport owners to buy new transports to mitigate the fare trouble in the wake of recent fuel price hike. The old transports consume more fuel, he said. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Association Secretary General Ashraf Khan demanded stoppage of police harassment regarding documents and reduction of taxes in the transport sector. The meeting ended without any concrete decision while there will be another meeting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the minister told parliament during the question-answer session, "Even 11 percent increase is too much. Fixation of the transport fare will be finalised in line with the fuel price hike."
| 
