Bus and truck fares rise, essential commodity prices continue to soar

The impact of rising fuel prices is driving up bus and truck fares, while discomfort in the essential commodities market shows no sign of easing—adding further pressure to daily living expenses. Following a Tk 20 per liter increase in fuel prices, authorities decided to raise long-distance bus fares by 17 poisha per kilometer. As a result, passengers traveling on various routes from Dhaka will face higher fares, alongside an increase in commuting costs within cities.

Freight fares for trucks and covered vans have also surged by Tk 2,000 to Tk 8,000 per trip across different routes. Transporting vegetables in a 5-tonne truck from the wholesale market in Jhashore to Dhaka now costs an additional Tk 1,000, while carrying goods in a 12.5-tonne truck from Benapole to Dhaka incurs an extra Tk 4,500 to Tk 5,000. Similarly, truck freight charges from the Kustia market to Khatunganj have risen from Tk 32,000 to Tk 40,000. Business owners reported paying up to Tk 5,000 more to ship goods from Chittagong to Dhaka.

Higher prices for edible oil, flour, garlic, bay leaves, eggplants, and various other essential items have put low- and middle-income families under severe strain. From daily commutes to the kitchen, the burden of added expenses across almost every aspect of living is making day-to-day survival increasingly difficult for ordinary people.

Following the Tk 20 per liter increase in fuel prices, the government decided to raise bus fares by 17 poisha per kilometer. Consequently, long-distance bus fares will rise from Tk 2.23 to Tk 2.40 per kilometer, while fares in Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas will increase from Tk 2.53 to Tk 2.70 per kilometer. The revised fare rates were finalized yesterday (Tuesday) during a meeting between transport owners and the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges. The new rates will take effect upon the issuance of an official gazette notification. However, as of 8 PM yesterday when this report was prepared, the notification had not yet been published.

Earlier on Monday, the BRTA fare adjustment committee had recommended raising long-distance bus fares by 20 paisha and city bus fares by 18 paisha. After reviewing the proposal during the ministry meeting, the government decided on a uniform 17 paisha increase for both categories.

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Sheikh Rabiul Alam emphasized that no operators will be allowed to charge fares above the government-fixed rates. Strict measures will be taken against non-compliant transport providers, including fines and the cancellation of route permits. He noted that the government attempted to keep bus fares below proportional cost estimates in consideration of public interest.

The minister explained that under standard calculations, a Tk 1 increase in fuel price per liter generally corresponds to a 1 poisha increase in bus fare per kilometer. Based on this formula, transport owners demanded a 20 poisha per kilometer hike to cover the Tk 20 fuel price surge, citing additional cost drivers such as US dollar appreciation and rising bus maintenance costs. However, after taking all factors into account, the government fixed the increase at 17 paisha instead of 20 paisha.

Previously in April, bus fares were raised by 11 paisha per kilometer following a fuel price hike. At that time, long-distance bus fares rose from Tk 2.12 to Tk 2.23 per kilometer, and city fares in Dhaka and Chittagong increased from Tk 2.42 to Tk 2.53 per kilometer. Fares are rising once again after a span of just five months.

On Sunday night, the government announced a Tk 20 per liter price hike across four types of fuel. Under the updated rates, diesel increased from Tk 115 to Tk 135, kerosene from Tk 135 to Tk 155, octane from Tk 145 to Tk 165, and petrol from Tk 140 to Tk 160. The revised fuel prices took effect from midnight on Monday.
Comparing current fares with the newly proposed rates shows that long-distance bus passengers will face significantly higher travel costs. Although the financial impact varies across routes depending on distance, passengers will have to pay an extra Tk 32 to Tk 52 due to fare re-adjustments. Consequently, longer routes will impose a disproportionately higher financial strain on commuters.

The highest fare increase will be on the Dhaka-Rangpur route. The current fare of Tk 715 will rise to Tk 767, requiring passengers to pay an extra Tk 52 for a one-way trip. Fares on the Dhaka-Sylhet route will increase from Tk 580 to Tk 624 (an additional Tk 44); the Dhaka-Rajshahi route will go from Tk 579 to Tk 621 (an extra Tk 42); and the Dhaka-Chittagong route will increase from Tk 552 to Tk 593 (an extra Tk 41).

Meanwhile, fares on the Dhaka-Khulna route will rise from Tk 582 to Tk 621 (up by Tk 39), while the Dhaka-Barisal route will see a hike from Tk 454 to Tk 490 (up by Tk 36). Even on relatively shorter routes like Dhaka-Mymensingh, fares will increase from Tk 415 to Tk 447, costing passengers an extra Tk 32 per trip.

Essential Commodity Prices Surge

Ariful Islam, a private sector employee, entered Karwan Bazar holding a grocery bag and a limited amount of cash, hoping to complete his shopping within the previous week's budget. However, as he moved from stall to stall, his calculations quickly fell apart. His money ran out after purchasing just one liter of oil, a few vegetables, spices, and eggs, leaving many essential items on his list unbought. Sighing in front of a shop, Ariful said, "I don't know how to survive. My salary isn't increasing, but the prices of goods keep rising every day. Just living in Dhaka city has become a struggle."

Ariful's situation reflects the daily reality of many low- and middle-income families. Grocery lists prepared at the beginning of the month upon receiving salaries are repeatedly slashed toward the end of the month. Due to financial constraints, nutritious and essential food items are increasingly left out. Families are reducing their intake of fish and meat, shortening vegetable purchases, and buying smaller quantities of essentials to manage household expenses.

This scenario emerged from a market visit to Karwan Bazar and an analysis of price data published by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB). While prices across all commodities have not risen uniformly—with a few items being cheaper than last year—higher prices for flour, edible oil, garlic, bay leaves, and eggplants are driving up overall kitchen expenses.

According to TCB data from Mirpur-6, Mohammadpur Town Hall, New Market, Rampura, and Mohakhali markets in the capital, unpackaged flour is currently selling at Tk 50 per kg, while packaged flour ranges from Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kg. Unpackaged refined flour (moida) costs Tk 70 per kg, while packaged variants range between Tk 80 and Tk 90 per kg (up from Tk 75–Tk 85 a month ago). Edible oil prices also offer no relief: a 1-liter bottle of soybean oil costs Tk 204, a 2-liter bottle Tk 410, and a 5-liter bottle Tk 1,000. One year ago, these were priced at Tk 188–190, Tk 375–378, and Tk 890–920, respectively.

In the spice market, prices for garlic and bay leaves remain high. Imported garlic sells for Tk 180–200 per kg, while local garlic costs Tk 100–120 per kg. Bay leaves are selling at Tk 250–300 per kg, up from Tk 200–225 last year. The vegetable market poses a similar dilemma of what to buy and what to skip: green chilies are selling at Tk 120–160, eggplants at Tk 90–120, and cucumbers at Tk 50–80 per kg. However, green chilies were higher last year at Tk 180–220 per kg, while eggplants ranged between Tk 50 and Tk 100 per kg. Although some items have stabilized, price surges in other essentials outweigh these minor reliefs.

Rice and pulse prices remain relatively stable. Fine rice sells for Tk 70–85, medium rice for Tk 55–65, and coarse rice for Tk 50–55 per kg. Large-grain red lentils cost Tk 95–100, medium-grain Tk 115–120, and small-grain Tk 150–160 per kg. In contrast, fish and meat markets remain expensive: Rui fish ranges from Tk 300 to Tk 450 per kg, beef from Tk 780 to Tk 850, and mutton from Tk 1,200 upward. Broiler chicken sells at Tk 180–200, local chicken at Tk 600–750 per kg, and farm eggs cost Tk 48–55 for four (a hali).

Retailers, however, defend their prices. Rabin Mia, a vendor at Karwan Bazar's Mama-Bhagina Kitchen Market, explained, "We are selling chickens at the rate we bought them. Sonali chicken was Tk 270 to Tk 280 yesterday, and broiler was Tk 180 to Tk 190." Vendors maintain that they are not inflating prices arbitrarily, but adding a small profit margin over wholesale procurement costs.

Consumers face a grim reality as fixed incomes fail to keep up with volatile market costs. Surges across oil, spices, vegetables, fish, meat, and eggs repeatedly disrupt monthly household budgets. With sugar at Tk 110–115, iodized salt at Tk 40–42, and powdered milk at Tk 830–960 per kg, price drops in a few items are quickly erased by increases in others.