Notification Fixing Half Bus Fare of Students in 5 Conditions

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has issued a notification halving the bus fare of students on five conditions. The fare will be effective in all metropolitan areas of the country.

The notification was issued on Sunday in the wake of the decision of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association.

The circular, signed by Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Mohammad Jasim Uddin, said the fare would be effective from December 1 in Dhaka metropolitan area and from December 11 in other metropolitan areas.

Diesel price was increased by 23 percent on November 4. After that, under the pressure of the transport owners, the government increased the bus fare by 27 percent. And after that the students started a movement demanding half fare for the bus. This movement started mainly in Dhaka metropolitan area. Later it spread to other cities of the country. The movement gained momentum on November 24 when a student of Notre Dame College was killed in a collision with a City Corporation vehicle in Dhaka. The next day, Ahsan Kabir Khan was killed by a Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) garbage truck on the opposite side of Bashundhara City Complex.

In the face of continuous student protest, first on BRTC buses and then on November 30, the transport owners announced to halve the bus fare in Dhaka. One of the conditions of the 11-point movement of the students was to confirm the issue of half rent through government notification. In view of this, this notification was issued.

Students will be able to pay 50 percent or less of the current rent.

The second condition, while traveling, is that students must carry with them a photo ID issued by their respective educational institution along with valid identity card and show it if required.

The third condition is that in the case of private bus service from 8 am to 8 pm, half the fare will be available.

Fourth condition, this half fare will not be applicable on educational holidays.

The fifth and last condition is that this half fare will not be applicable for long distance buses.