Bus fare hike: HC drops petition from cause list

The High Court on Thursday dropped from the cause list a writ petition challenging the legality of the notification issued by the government to increase bus fare by 60 per cent.

The High Court bench of justice JBM Hassan came up with the decision after virtual hearing on the writ petition through video conference.

Supreme Court lawyer Humayun Kabir Pallab on behalf of Law and Life Foundation, a rights organisation, on 1 June filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging the government's decision to increase bus fare by 60 per cent.

During hearing attorney general Mahbubey Alam stood for the state while Humayun Kabir appeared for the petitioner.

Opposing the writ petition, the attorney general said that the government has reasonably increased the fare of public transport, said Humayun Kabir.

He added, “I opposed the government decision. Bus fare has been hiked unreasonably. The court after hearing the statements of both the parties dropped the writ petition from the cause list. I will move another bench later.”

The writ petitioner also said that the middle class and lower middle class people mostly use public transport. The middle class and lower middle class are now facing serious financial crisis due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In this situation, the notification increasing the fare by 60 per cent has made them frustrated, he said.

The gazette notification was issued by the road, transport and bridges ministry on Sunday increasing fares for inter-district and long routes buses and minibuses by 60 from existing Tk 1.42 for a kilometre.