Passengers' Anger at Bus Fare Hiked

Buses have resumed operations since yesterday evening after a 60-hour strike over rising diesel and kerosene prices. Passengers have expressed their anger on the first day of the increased fare. There have even been incidents of clashes between transport workers and passengers. Meanwhile, the increase in fares has been sharply criticized by urban transport experts, eminent people, consumer rights organizations and those associated with the passenger rights movement.

Their claim, the decision is one-sided. As always, the passengers have been affected. This time too the unjust pressure of the transport owners has been accepted. The interests of the passengers did not matter. Due to the reckless increase in the price of diesel due to the recklessness of some government officials, the people have had to suffer.

Talking to Khandaker Abdul Matin, a government official who was on his way to the office in the morning, he said, "I, a government official, have been traveling to the office for the last three days with a lot of rent." Today I got on the bus from Moghbazar to Mohammadpur and heard that the fare has increased by 10 taka.

Monir Hossain, another passenger on his way to the office, said he paid Tk 35 for the bus fare from Gulistan to Uttara till yesterday and today he paid Tk 50. Expressing displeasure over the increase in bus fare by Tk 15, he said, "Our salary is not increasing." How much does this rent go up every month? There is no one to speak for us.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Passenger Welfare Association Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury rejected the fare, saying the government did not include any passenger representatives in the decision. The government has increased fares exclusively based on the views of transport owners. We strongly protest against such rent increase.