The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has recommended reducing the per kilometer bus fare following a decrease in fuel prices.

The recommendation suggests a three paisa reduction per kilometer for fares of diesel-operated buses in long-distance and metropolitan routes.

The BRTA made this decision during a meeting at its office on Monday. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges will need to approve this fare reduction proposal.

Md. Monirul Alam, the Deputy Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division, signed the official notification on Monday, following the President's directive.

The notification reduces the maximum fare for buses and minibuses on inter-district and long-distance routes from Tk. 2.15 to Tk. 2.12 per kilometer.

For buses operating in Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas, the fare per kilometer has been reduced from Tk. 2.45 to 2.42.

The fare for minibuses in Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas, as well as those under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (covering Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Manikganj, and Dhaka district), has been set at Tk. 2.32 per kilometer, down from Tk. 2.35. The minimum fares in these metropolitan areas remain at Tk. 10 and Tk. 8, respectively.

The notification also states that if the number of seats in buses or minibuses decreases from what the BRTA approved, authorities must approve the recalculated fares proportionately. This approval must come from the BRTA or the Passenger and Freight Transport Committee.

This fare adjustment does not apply to gas-operated buses and minibuses. The BRTA has revoked all previous notifications and orders related to fare determination for diesel-operated buses and minibuses. Each bus and minibus must prominently display this fare structure.

These new fares will take effect from April 2, as mentioned in the notification.