The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Road Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam for prioritizing public interest over bus owners’ demands in setting new fares. The association’s secretary general, Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, issued a statement on Thursday following the government’s decision to raise bus fares by 11 paisa per kilometer in response to a one-taka increase in diesel prices.

According to the statement, bus owners had pressured the government for a 64 percent fare hike using inflated cost analyses, despite the minimal fuel price adjustment. The association recalled that in August 2022, when diesel prices rose sharply, fares were increased by 22 percent, but subsequent fare reductions were never implemented for passengers. The new adjustment raises fares by 4.45 to 5.19 percent across different routes.

The association warned that bus owners might exploit loopholes in fare-setting committees to overcharge passengers and urged the government to prevent fraudulent fare practices and stop CNG-run buses from charging diesel-rate fares.