The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

None of the city commuters could avail the benefit of recent reduction of fuel oil price as no single bus companies have reduced the bus fare even after one week of fuel tariff cut.

Still now the bus companies are charging the same fare they were charging before the tariff reduction of fuel amid daily quarrels between the commuters and the bus conductors.

On October 26, the Government re-fixed the prices of diesel and kerosene at Tk 48 from Tk 55 per litre while that of petrol at Tk 78 from Tk 87 and octane at Tk 80 from Tk 90.

Following the fuel price reduction the Government re-fixed the transport fare reducing it by Tk 0.7 per kilometer. However, none of the bus companies followed the Government order.

On June 30 the Government hiked fuel oil price in different ranges. It raised the prices of diesel and kerosene to Tk 55 from Tk 40, petrol to Tk 87 from Tk 65, and octane to Tk 90 from Tk 67.

In the following day most of the bus companies raised fare by Tk 2 to Tk 5 for their entire routes.

A passenger in the city said the transport owners had taken little time in raising fares when the fuel prices were increased by the Government, but they are now reluctant to bring down the fares when the fuel prices have been reduced. Passengers are being harassed by bus staff on different routes of the city when they refuse to pay excess fares. "The transport owners and the workers are controlling the route. The government has no control on them," said a passenger in busy Motijheel area.

However, the Traffic Department of police has launched a special drive in the city yesterday to check such incidents.

During the drive police will check whether the transport authorities are taking extra fares.

Before reducing the fuel oil price special assistant to the Chief Adviser Dr M Tamim told newsmen that the government will ensure that common people get the benefits of the reduction. But people saw no such arrangements from the government to ensure the benefit.