The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chaos between the passengers and transport staffs marked the day, yesterday, as most of the gas run busses increased fare following the doubling of price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the government.

The CNG run auto rickshaws and taxicabs begun to charge extra fare on Thursday, the day government raised the gas price.

On Sunday, the opening day of the week, staffs of the CNG run buses started to charge new high fare creating anarchy among the commuters.

In some cases financially ailing people, stricken by price soaring of essentials, stuck into argument with the transport employees leading towards clash. Many passengers were injured in the clashes in different places in the city.

Selim Miah in Mirpur said, "People are in very bad position due to high price of food. Raising of transport fare, especially bus fare will deepen their problem."

He said rising of CNG price at the moment was not a good decision. "The government raised fare of CNG run taxi cabs and three wheeler auto rickshaws but the bus owners already raised their fare illegally. The government should take necessary steps to stop such malpractice," he said.

Shahjahan Sipon in College gate in Tongi area said, " Raising fare of buses at this moment is just injustice. People are striving due to high rice price… how they can bear the extra pressure of high bus fare."

Meanwhile, the government Saturday re-fixed fares of CNG run auto rickshaws and taxicabs following the demand of the owners of the transports.

The new decision raised fares of auto rickshaws by Tk 6 a kilometre, non-AC taxicabs by Tk 8 and AC taxicabs by Tk 10. The minimum fare of the auto rickshaws will start at Tk 18 and non-AC taxicabs at Tk 30 and AC taxicabs at Tk 40.

Fare for the first 2 kilometres or the lowest charge of auto rickshaws was fixed at Tk 18 and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 6. And per minute waiting charge of auto rickshaws has been re-fixed to Tk one.

Fare for first 2-kilometres of AC taxicab was fixed to Tk 40 and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 10. The lowest charge of economy taxicab is Tk 30 for the first two kilometres and subsequent per kilometre charge is Tk 8.

On Thursday the government raised price of CNG from Tk 8.50 to Tk 16.75 per cubic metre effective from Friday.

The CNG price was last fixed on June 13 in 2005 at Tk 8.50 from which the pump operators received Tk 6.02 and the government share was Tk 2.43.