FROM PAGE 3

Yesterday, this correspondent visited Gulistan, Mohakhali, Farmgate, Mirpur-10 and several other areas in Dhaka and found that fares on intercity and long-route buses have been increased on various routes by more than 2-3 percent above the usual rate.

Operators, however, denied any fare hike.

Meanwhile, passengers are left to bear the brunt. They alleged that higher fares were being charged amid the diesel and octane crisis and the recent fuel price hike.

Goods transportation costs have also increased at district level following the fuel price hike.

In Rajshahi, traders were prompted to scale back purchases of vegetables from farmers amid hike in transportation costs. As a result, wholesale vegetable prices have dropped.

Truck fare for a Rajshahi-Dhaka round trip has risen to around Tk 27,000–28,000 from Tk 23,000–24,000, said Suzon Ali, owner of Josna Enterprise Transport at Nowhata haat in Paba upazila.

“As such, traders are buying less, vegetable prices are falling, and farmers are bearing the losses,” he added.

Bulbul, a local trader, said the cost of transporting pointed gourds from Rajshahi to Dhaka has increased by Tk 20 per sack. “That is why we are buying less,” he added.

“As wholesale traders are buying less, vegetable prices have dropped in the last two days. I sold pointed gourds at Tk 60–65 per kg three days ago, but today [Monday] I sold them at Tk 45 per kg,” said Ilias, a local farmer.

Furthermore, goods transportation from Benapole Land Port has also been facing disruption.

Atikuzzaman Soni, president of the Benapole Transport Agency Owners’ Association, said the fare for a 15-tonne truck from Benapole to Dhaka has increased to around Tk 30,000–32,000 from Tk 22,000–23,000.

Kamal Uddin Shimul, vice-president of the Benapole C&F Agents Association, said goods transportation is being disrupted as fuel supply has yet to normalise despite the price hike.