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Doubling CNG Price

Steep rise in cab and three-wheeler fares

Bus, truck owners unhappy, to increase fare soon

Kailash Sarkar
The sudden price hike of compressed natural gas (CNG) has led to confrontations between passengers and drivers of CNG-run vehicles as the latter are charging higher fares ignoring government directives.
Although the government gave instructions for not charging extra fares, the drivers of CNG-run autorickshaws and taxicabs hiked the fares yesterday, a weekly holiday.
Several incidents of confrontation between passengers and drivers also occurred at different places in the city.
Meanwhile, owners of CNG-run bus and truck termed the government decision unwise' saying that they have to increase the fares within a short time.
The government increased CNG price from Tk 8:50 to Tk 16.75 per cubic metre from yesterday saying that it would consider adjusting the fares of the CNG-run three-wheelers and taxicabs. It also gave directions for not hiking the fares of the CNG-run vehicles until it makes a decision on the matter.
Mamtazuddin, who used to pay Tk 10 extra to the CNG-run autorickshaw driver to come to his office at Karwanbazar from his residence at Khilgaon, had to pay Tk 20 extra yesterday.
“I have to buy gas at a doubled price, so how can I can I afford to operate the vehicle without charging extra fare,” said auto-rickshaw driver Shahidul Islam.
He pointed out different causes in favour of charging extra fare and said, “I have to pay Tk 600 as deposition to the auto-rickshaw owner against the government fixed Tk 450. Besides, the prices of the essential commodities are at the_ sky-level, we have to queue for hours for filling of gas due to lack of filling stations and load shedding."
According to sources, unpleasant incident took place among the passengers and drivers at everywhere in the city. Many passengers and drivers were seen scuffling with each following the quarrel over the fare.
Golam Faruq, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto-rickshaw Employees Union, said, "We have information that over 100 of our fellow drivers had to be assaulted by the passengers as they demanded some extra fare."
Asked, it is not possible to wait till the government's new decision as the drivers have to pay the double price of the CNG.
Terming the government decision unwise without consulting the drivers, he said the government should have to re-fix the fare before increasing the CNG price.
Demanding the immediate rc-fixing of fare, Dhaka District Autorickshaw Labourers Union leaders threatened. "Unless, the government would have to be responsible if any unrest is developed among the labourers."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Truck Owners' Association president Rustum Ali protested the government decision and termed it illogical.
He told The Daily Star, “There is no alternative to increase the fare of CNG-run truck, bus and other vehicles."
"While we have been insisting the truck and other transport owners to convert their vehicles into CNG-run, the government is discouraging them with its unwise decisions”, he said.
He said about 60 percent of the trucks ply in and around the capital is CNG-run and the number is increasing day by day.
"As the CNG price is increased, we must have to increase the fare", he said and added, “The fare of truck is fixed neither by the government nor by the owners' association, it is fixed depending on demand and supply."
Moreover, the owners of the CNG-run buses ply on the roads are also considering of increasing the fare. But they did not started yet.
They said they would decide in this regard soon.
Presently, around 1,32,000 CNG-fuelled vehicles ply the roads in Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla. The number of CNG pumps stands at 229 with 19 more set to be opened within a couple of months, said Petrobangla sources.
CNG sector consumes two percent of 1,750 million cubic feet gas produced per day, they added.