Bus fare hike challenged in court
The government has recently increased the fares of all buses, including inter-district bus services, by 60 percent
A Supreme Court lawyer filed a writ petition with the High Court on Monday, challenging the 60 percent increase in public transport fare.
The government on Sunday increased the fares of all buses, including inter-district bus services, by 60 percent as the vehicles are allowed to carry passengers at half capacity to maintain social distancing amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Petitioner Humayun Kabir Pallab said a single-member virtual bench of Justice JBM Hasan would hear the petition.
The respondents in the writ petition are the secretary to the Road Transport and Highways Division, the chairman of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and other authorities concerned.
Pallab said, "The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our lives. It has left most of the low and middle-income people jobless. In this situation, the notification increasing the fare by 60 percent has made the helpless and miserable people even more upset and frustrated. For this reason, we are seeking a stay on the notification."
Meanwhile, another Supreme Court Lawyer Moniruzzaman Lincoln has issued a legal notice to the government seeking suspension of the notification.
In a gazette notification on Sunday, the government said the fares of buses and minibuses running on long routes will be increased by 60 percent on the existing rate of Tk1.42 per kilometre.
Earlier, the fare committee of the BRTA recommended increasing the fares of all buses, including, inter-district bus services, by 80 percent.
On Thursday, the government decided to allow public transports, including buses, trains, and inland water vessels, to resume services from Sunday while abiding by social distancing rules and health directives.
On Friday, in separate meetings with transport owners on Friday, BRTA and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority decided to resume the public transports.
All modes of public transport remain off road since March 26, when the government enforced a shutdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus across the country.
