Transport leaders on Sunday demanded raising bus fares by 40 per cent in line with the recent fuel price hike.
The demand was made during a lengthy meeting, which began around 11:30am at the BRTA office in the capital, amid the countrywide transport strike that rolled into its third day, inflicting immense sufferings to people.
According to the meeting agenda, the two sides discussed whether it was possible to increase bus fares by Tk 1.82 for long-haul route and Tk 2.10 for metropolitan areas.
Before the new decision, the fare of long-haul bus was Tk 1.42 while the fares of bus and minibus plying in the metropolitan areas were Tk 1.70 and Tk 1.60 respectively for per kilometre.
Public transports along with vehicles carrying goods stayed off the roads as the owners and workers were adamant about continuing the strike.
On Saturday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also hinted a hike in transport fare and said the fare would remain tolerable even if the government decided to increase it due to the strike.
On November 3, the government raised the prices of diesel to Tk 80 from Tk 65 at the retail level.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said petroleum prices have been readjusted due to the price hike of petroleum in the international market.
