Transport fares across Bangladesh remain unchanged for now, as authorities are set to take a final decision on fare adjustments on Thursday following the recent hike in fuel prices.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam confirmed the matter while speaking to reporters on Wednesday after a meeting held at the Secretariat to review the impact of increased fuel costs on the transport sector.
According to the minister, no conclusive decision was reached during the meeting. “A decision on fixing new fares for buses, trucks and other transport will be taken on Thursday,” he said.
Amid the uncertainty, transport owners have been instructed not to increase fares on their own.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity (BSPMS) issued a directive asking all operators across the country to maintain existing fare rates until the government announces an official revision.
In a statement, BSPMS Secretary General Md Saiful Alam warned that no transport operator should charge passengers more than the current fares under any circumstances.
He urged both owners and workers to strictly follow the directive on all routes.
At the same time, transport leaders highlighted growing financial pressure within the sector.
They said the recent Tk15 per litre increase in diesel prices has significantly raised operating costs for vehicles. In addition, the appreciation of the US dollar has further driven up expenses by increasing the cost of imported spare parts and maintenance.
Transport owners said these combined factors are making it increasingly difficult to sustain operations under the existing fare structure. They have called on the government to revise fares in a timely and reasonable manner, taking into account the higher fuel and maintenance costs.
The sector now awaits Thursday’s decision, which is expected to determine whether fares will be adjusted to reflect the changing economic conditions.
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