Jatri Kalyan demands immediate withdrawal of hiked bus fare

The government should immediately withdraw the 60 percent extra bus fare imposed during this coronavirus pandemic as bus operators are no more carrying passengers at a half capacity maintaining health guidelines, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded.

The previous fare for public road transports and other means of transportation should be restored on an immediate basis, the passenger welfare platform said on Sunday in a media statement signed by its Secretary General Mozammel Haque.

The imposition of the extra fare has created anarcy and chaos in the transport sector, with the general public suffering the most, it said.

In late March, the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry in a circular had increased bus fare at 60 percent on the condition that bus operators would carry passengers at half capacity, instead of full capacity, maintaining health guidelines.

The circular also made it clear that extra fare would be cancelled and the previous fare introduced with the ending of the coronavirus crisis.