Day 1 of price hike

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Day one of increased fuel price saw scuffles between bus staffers and passengers, a shortage of transport and taking additional fares by the staffers.

The reason shown by transport workers behind the excessive hike in fares was that new fare charts were yet to be prepared in line with the fuel price hike.

Meanwhile, rickshaw pullers, drivers of CNG-run three-wheelers and human-hauliers also took additional fares from commuters as this correspondent found during visits to Gulistan, Paltan, Shahbag, Science Laboratory, Banglamotor, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate yesterday.

The authorities on Saturday increased bus fares up to 22 percent, with the per kilometre fare for long-route buses being Tk 2.20 from the existing Tk 1.80. The fares for city buses saw an increase by 16 percent with the per kilometre fare being Tk 2.50 from the existing Tk 2.15.

Azizul Islam, a passenger of Sraban Paribahan, said, “I had to pay Tk 10 extra to go to Matuil from Gulistan.”