Fuel Price Hike Pushes Ride Fares

Ride-sharing motorcycle fares in Dhaka have increased following a recent rise in fuel prices, affecting daily commuters who depend on these services for transport across the capital.

Farhana Neela, an employee at a private organisation who frequently travels within the city for work, experienced the change on Sunday morning. She travelled from ECB Chattar in Mirpur to Road 70 in Gulshan-2. She reported that the fare for the same route had risen compared with previous days.

According to Ms Neela, the journey cost her 140 taka, whereas it previously cost around 100 taka. She said the rider explained that the increase was linked to shortages of fuel and the higher cost of fuel in the market.

The increase in ride fares follows a government decision taken on Saturday night to raise fuel prices to new levels. The revised rates, which took effect from Sunday, set diesel at 115 taka per litre, kerosene at 130 taka, octane at 140 taka, and petrol at 135 taka per litre. The adjustment was implemented immediately after the official notification.

Motorcycle riders involved in app-based ride-sharing services report that the new fuel pricing, along with difficulties in obtaining fuel, has affected their operating costs. Many riders state that they have had to wait in long queues to refuel, which further adds to delays and expenses.

Md Musa Khondkar, a ride-sharing motorcycle operator in the capital, described his experience of refuelling the night before the price change. He said he spent about seven hours waiting in a queue before being able to purchase fuel. Shortly afterwards, he learned that fuel prices had been increased. He noted that such conditions are forcing riders to adjust fares, as maintaining previous rates is no longer viable under the current circumstances.

Passengers in different parts of Dhaka have also reported noticeable fare variations within short time periods. Zafar Iqbal, who resides in Bosila in Mohammadpur and travels daily to Gulshan for work, said he relies on ride-sharing motorcycles due to fuel limitations in his own transport. He stated that a morning trip from near Bosila Bridge to Gulshan cost 240 taka, whereas the same journey had cost 187 taka the previous afternoon.

Similarly, Nazhatul Towa, who works in a private organisation and is attending a training programme in Gulshan-2, reported higher travel costs. She said that two days earlier she paid 150 taka for a ride from Farmgate, but on Sunday morning the same route cost her 220 taka.

Reported Fare Comparison

The situation highlights how recent fuel price adjustments have quickly influenced transport costs in Dhaka’s ride-sharing motorcycle sector, with both riders and passengers experiencing immediate changes in fare levels.