As Eid-ul-Fitr draws near, thousands of workers are leaving the capital to return home, but this year’s festive journey has placed an unprecedented financial strain on travellers. According to the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association (BPWA), approximately Tk 1.48 billion (~Tk 148 crore) is expected to be collected as extra fares on buses and minibuses alone.
In a press release on Wednesday (18 March), BPWA General Secretary Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury highlighted the widespread surge in fares on both inter-district and urban routes, warning that the hike could disproportionately affect low-income passengers.
Analysis of Additional Fares
On long-distance routes departing from Dhaka, the BPWA estimates that around 4 million trip passengers are paying an average extra Tk 350 per ticket, amounting to approximately Tk 1.218 billion in additional charges.
City buses in Dhaka and other urban centres are also seeing fare hikes. Here, 6 million trip passengers are paying roughly Tk 50 extra per ticket, generating about Tk 261 million in extra revenue. Altogether, the additional fares during this Eid travel period are projected at Tk 1.479 billion.
| Route (Dhaka Departure) | Regular Fare (Tk) | Eid Fare (Tk) | Extra Per Ticket (Tk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka → Pabna | 550–600 | 1200 | 600 |
| Dhaka → Natore | 550–580 | 1200 | 620 |
| Dhaka → Rangpur | 500 | 1500 | 1000 |
| Dhaka → Noakhali | 500 | 800 | 300 |
| Dhaka → Lakshmipur | 500 | 700 | 200 |
| Dhaka → Ramganj | 350 | 800 | 450 |
| Dhaka → Mymensingh (Local) | 250 | 600 | 350 |
| Dhaka → Khulna | 500 | 800 | 300 |
| Chattogram → Lakshmipur | 400 | 800 | 400 |
| Chattogram → Bhola | 450 | 900 | 450 |
| Dhaka → Mymensingh (Truck/Pickup) | 500 | 500–600 | 0–100 |
Observations and Concerns
BPWA’s survey indicates that 87% of buses and minibuses are charging extra fares, often ignoring official seating capacities. For example, a 52-seat bus frequently charges the same fare as a 40-seat vehicle. Both CNG and diesel buses are levying uniform extra fares irrespective of operational costs.
Some transport companies are reportedly compelling passengers to buy tickets for alternative destinations. For instance, travellers from Dhaka to Chattogram are being forced to purchase tickets to Satkania, Chakaria, or Bandarban, while northern routes such as Bogura may require tickets to Rangpur or Naogaon.
BPWA attributes these irregularities to multiple factors: weak enforcement, rising commodity prices, opportunistic fare hikes by owners, and failure to pay legally mandated wages and Eid bonuses to drivers and assistants.
| Issue | Potential Consequence |
|---|---|
| Excessive fare collection | Increased financial burden for passengers, especially low-income groups |
| Unregulated ticketing | Passengers forced to buy tickets for unintended destinations |
| Lack of monitoring | Higher risk of corruption, social unrest, and traffic accidents |
| Fare hikes ignoring bus size/type | Inequitable treatment of passengers |
| Cash-only fare system | Encourages extortion and reduces accountability |
BPWA has urged authorities to implement digital fare collection, end cash-only transactions, and introduce CCTV-based monitoring on roads and highways. The association warned that without immediate reforms, the ongoing fare chaos could intensify social unrest, increase traffic accidents, and place disproportionate hardship on low-income travellers during the festive period.