Be it government employees or those working in the private sector, the recent bus fare hike is hurting commuters already burdened by inflation. Jannatul Ferdous, a government officer, for instance, is now forced to shell out Tk 100 for a 'Green Dhaka' air-conditioned bus ride to Paltan from the Bashundhara Residential Area, instead of the earlier Tk 60. The fare hike seems to be whimsical on Green Dhaka's part, given the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) on August 6 allowing bus operators in the capital to increase the same by 35 paisa to Tk 2.50 per kilometre from the earlier Tk 2.15. From the main gate of the Bashundhara Residential Area to Paltan, the distance is roughly 10 kilometres. Also read: Fuel price hike: Govt raises bus fares Had Green Dhaka followed the BRTA’s direction, Jannatul’s daily bus fare would have risen only by Tk 3.50 and not by Tk 40 -- which is almost tenfold more. On August 5, the government hiked the prices of fuel in Bangladesh. Diesel prices  were increased by Tk 34 to Tk 114 per litre, octane by Tk 46 to Tk 135 per litre and petrol by Tk 44 to Tk 130 per litre.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has issued a new chart fixing Bus fares for all the routes stretching from Dhaka to the southern districts. According to the chart, the distance between Dhaka and Barishal via Mawa-Bhanga-Madaripur route is 156km. The new fare for a 40-seat bus is Tk 454, while for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 356 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Gopalganj via Mawa-Bhanga route is 145.53km. The fare for a 40-seat bus is now Tk 423 and for a 51-seat bus it is now Tk 332 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Khulna via Gopalganj is 207km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 575 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 456 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Shariatpur via the Padma Bridge is 73km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 257 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 211 per person. There is another route to Shariatpur via the 2nd Buriganga Bridge-Mawa-Jajira route. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is almost the same as the first route. Read: Mawa-Bhanga expressway witnesses huge traffic snarl on first day of toll collection The distance between Dhaka and Pirojpur via Mawa-Bhanga-Barishal is 206km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 580 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 455 per person. There is another route to Pirojpur via Mawa-Bhanga-Gopalganj-Bagerhat. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 619 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 486 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Patuakhali via Bhanga-Barishal route is 192km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 561 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 440 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Madaripur via the Mawa-Bhanga route is 111km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 344 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 270 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Satkhira via Mawa-Bhanga-Gopalganj-Khulna is 257km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 689 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 541 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Faridpur via the Mawa-Bhanga route is 102km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 323 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 253 per person. The distance between Dhaka and Kuakata via the Mawa-Bhanga-Madaripur-Barishal-Patuakhali route is 276km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 767 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 601 per person, according to the new chart.

It's official. From Wednesday, all students will get a 50% discount on bus fares in the Dhaka metropolitan area. The announcement by the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association on Tuesday comes in the wake of mass student protests over the past week. “However, the reduced fares will only be allowed in the Dhaka metropolitan area as the students here have demanded it,” Khandaker Enayet Ullah, the secretary of the Association, told the media. "The students will have to produce their institutional ID cards to avail the concessional fares." Also read: Private bus owners to allow half fares for students: Obaidul Quader However, the discounted fares for students will be allowed only from 7am to 8 pm and it will not be applicable on government holidays, weekly holidays and other holidays of educational institutions, said Khandaker. On Friday, the Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had asked them to reduce fares by 50% in state-run buses. On November 3, the government raised the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per litre, prompting the transporters to enforce an indefinite strike in the country on November 7 demanding a hike in bus fares.

Police on Monday foiled an attempt of eight left-leaning student organisations to block Shahbagh intersection to press home their various demands, including half fare on public transport for students. Their other demands include government steps to control the abnormal price hike of daily essentials and reduce fuel prices. The leaders and activists of the left-leaning organizations brought out a procession from Dhaka University’s TSC area at noon, said Moudud Hawladar, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station. Also read: Students block roads again demanding road safety, half fare When their procession got close to the National Museum, police obstructed them, leading to a scuffle between the students and police. Police later dispersed the protesters.

Students of two college on Saturday vandalized 10-12 buses in Science Laboratory area demanding half-fare bus ride in the city for students. A group of students brought out a procession in the area at noon and staged demonstrations, said Ekram Ali, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi Police Station. They also vandalized 10-12 buses passing the area. Also read: Dhaka College students demand half-fare bus ride in the city

Bus services resumed in cities across Bangladesh, including capital Dhaka, on Thursday, albeit with a limited number of passengers. However, inter-district bus services will remain suspended in the country during the lockdown period. The lockdown-related movement restrictions have been imposed by the government to break the chain of Covid-19 infections in Bangladesh. Also Read: Lockdown to continue until May 16, intra-district public transport services from May 6 A reality check by UNB in Dhaka revealed that several buses left their depots in the morning and were plying on several key stretches of the capital -- Mirpur Road, Begum Rokeya Sarani, Uttara, Banani and Mohakhali, to name a few. Like buses, other public transport vehicles like microbuses were also seen plying on the capital's roads and carrying passengers, but with 50 percent of their seating capacity. People were seen using public transport, strictly adhering to all Covid-safety protocols. Police said they were keeping a strict vigil on all public transport vehicles and taking action against passengers found without masks or flouting social distancing norms. Traffic inspector Asaduzzaman said, "Bus services have resumed in the city since morning and we are checking each and every bus to ensure that all passengers maintain all Covid-safety protocols." UNB's Cumilla correspondent reports: Buses left almost all the terminals in the district, including Shashangacha, Jangalia and Chakbazar, early in the morning. And no passengers were allowed to board the bus without masks. Public transport services were suspended in Bangladesh on April 5, with the government announcing a countrywide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, the government partially resumed the operations of city bus services on April 7 only to suspend the same with the imposition of the countrywide complete lockdown from April 14. The transport owners' associations have already urged the government to resume bus services in the country and demanded food assistance for all unemployed transport workers across Bangladesh. Also Read:Covid’s daily death toll in Bangladesh falls to 50 Bus fare increases The government has increased the bus  fares by 60 percent across the country, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on March 30. On May 31, 2020, the government raised the fares of inter-district (Dhaka, Chittagong and adjoining areas) buses and minibuses by 60 percent in order to compensate vehicle owners carrying 50 percent less passengers to prevent the transmission of coronavirus. Lockdown extended The government has issued a notification extending the ongoing lockdown till May 16 with six fresh directives alongside the existing ones to contain the spread of Covid-19. According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, officials of all government, semi-government autonomous and private organisations, banks and financial institutions have been asked to remain at their respective workstations during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. Shops and shopping malls will remain open from 10 am to 8 pm, maintaining health guidelines. If any violations are seen, the shopping malls and shops will be closed instantly, says the notification. Inter-district transport services will remain suspended, while only intra-district transport services will operate adhering to health guidelines from Thursday. However, launch and train services will remain suspended. As coronavirus cases have been growing at an alarming rate since mid-March, the government imposed a ‘loose’ nationwide lockdown for one week from April 5 as part of its move to contain its spread. Also Read:Officials asked not to leave workstations during Eid holidays Later, a ‘stricter’ lockdown was declared from April 14 to 21. On April 28, the government again extended the lockdown till May 5, with the country struggling to contain the Covid-19 transmission. On April 23, the Cabinet Division issued a notification allowing shops and shopping malls to operate from April 25 (10am-5pm) on the condition that they would maintain proper safety protocols.    

In the wake of growing Covid-19 cases, the government has increased the fares of public transport by 60 percent across the country, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader. The order will remain in force for the next two weeks, said Obaidul Quader while talking to reporters at a press briefing. Also read: Proposed partial lockdown in areas with high Covid-19 cases: Health Minister Passengers will have to pay the additional bus fares from Wednesday, he said. Earlier on May 31, 2020, the government raised the fares of inter-district and long-haul  (Dhaka, Chittagong cities and adjoining areas) buses and minibuses by 60 percent in order to compensate bus owners carrying 50 percent less passengers to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday issued an 18-point directive for the next two weeks in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus in Bangladesh. Also read: 25-30% bus seats must be kept empty, no standing passengers: Quader The Health Ministry has also proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher Coronavirus transmission rates, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Monday. Partial lockdown, closure of amusement centres, limiting wedding ceremonies, picnic, religious gatherings, strengthening quarantine system, limiting passengers in public transports, and limiting attendance in offices are some of the recommendations. The ministry also proposed ensuring ‘no mask no service’ policy, increasing numbers of mobile courts and imposing fines on health guideline violators. Bangladesh on Monday recorded its highest-ever single day infection (5,181) since the first cases were reported on March 8 last year.  The daily infection rate jumped to 18.38 percent from 17.65 percent on Sunday. Also readNot heading back into lockdown: Quader The total caseload rose to 600,895 while Bangladesh also reported 45 deaths, raising the national tally to 8,949, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers' welfare platform, on Tuesday demanded the withdrawal of the increased fares of buses and minibuses as the transport owners are not maintaining the health guidelines to prevent coronavirus transmission.

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Saturday castigated the recommendation to hike bus fare by 80 percent amid the coronavirus pandemic, calling it unjust and unacceptable.