Leaders of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads, and Railways (NCPSRR), a voluntary organization working in the communication sector on Tuesday urged the government to cancel the decision of increasing prices of railway ticket immediately.
Md Shahid Mia, the convener of NCPSRR, and Ashish Kumar Dey, the general secretary, made the urges in a joint statement.
Bangladesh Railway recently take a decision to eliminate fare discounts starting May 4, which will lead to a significant increase in train fares by 20 to 30 percent for journeys exceeding 100 km.
Referring the current economic crisis, including the steep rise in the cost of living, exacerbated by an ongoing heatwave and reduced incomes among laborers and the lower-middle class, the organization said the fare increase, under the situation, is completely illogical and against public interest.
The statement also referenced the challenges posed by crop failures and anticipated hikes in agricultural product prices, stressing that such an environment makes the fare increase particularly burdensome for ordinary citizens. The statement further said, governments worldwide often subsidise state-run transport to ease public burdens, a practice that includes Bangladesh. The government is no exception in providing subsidies, and it could increase these subsidies instead of letting the public suffer through fare hikes.
The two top leaders of NCPSRR urged the concern authorities to reconsider the planned fare adjustments.
