The government's decision to reduce fare by 3 paisa for per kilometre in long-route buses came into effect from yesterday.

From now on, a passenger will have to pay Tk 1.42 instead of Tk 1.45 for travelling each kilometre.

A passenger on Dhaka-Chittagong route now on will pay around Tk 352 instead of previous fare around Tk 359; on Dhaka-Rajshahi route they will pay around Tk 368 instead of Tk 375; on Dhaka-Khulna route around Tk 415 instead of around Tk 423; and on Dhaka-Sylhet route around Tk 357 instead of around Tk 364.

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on May 3, decided to reduce the fare following the recent fuel oil price cut. Most of the long-route buses are run by diesel.

However, many passengers and different rights organisations criticised the government's decision claiming that the amount of reduced fare is very nominal.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, in a statement, last night claimed that bus operators yesterday charged the previous fares.

The association came up with the claim after monitoring bus fares on 55 routes in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions yesterday.

Talking to The Daily Star, Shyamoli Paribahan Managing Director Romesh Chandra Ghosh said, “We have not got the revised fare chart from the government.”

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will visit Gabtoli bus terminal today to monitor the situation.

Bus fare in Dhaka and Chittagong metropolis will remain unchanged as almost all the buses in the two cities are run by CNG.