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The government has adjusted fuel prices in the country in line with the global trend but its benefit is yet to be reflected in the fare collection of public transport.
On Saturday, diesel price was announced to be adjusted by Tk 2 per litre, octane and patrol prices by Tk 3 per litre from Tk 104 of diesel, from Tk 125 of octane and Tk 121 of patrol.
The new prices were declared to be effective from Sunday night. Earlier on May 1, all fuel prices had been adjusted by Tk 2 per litre.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, which is responsible to adjust bus fares conforming to an increase or decrease in fuel prices, is yet to take any steps though fuel price adjustment was done twice in a month following the government's policy to automate pricing. BRTA chairman could not be reached for comment after calling him and sending message till filing this report.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association (BPWA) has demanded reduction in public transport fares matching the fuel price reductions in several phases during the period of the interim government.
In a statement on Sunday, the association's chairman, Mohammad Zakaria, and secretary general, Mohammad Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said the public transport passengers do not get the benefits of fuel price cuts due to decrease of Tk 1 to 3 in phases by the government in line with the global market price, of which monthly trend is downward.
They also alleged that the owners always raise bus fares taking no care of the government's initiative to announce fare hike but look for excuse when fares are adjusted downward.
Due to these reasons, there always remains a huge gap between the bus fares being collected at field level and those fixed by the government.
The association's leaders also demanded incorporating BPWA into the committee to fix public transport fares to ensure passengers' representation.
smunima@yahoo.com