Ministerial meetings discusscrucial issue of fare hike

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Munima Sultana The authorities concerned have initiated the process of re-fixing transport fares in line with the government's move to increase CNG price. The Energy Ministry and the Communications Ministry sat Thursday to discuss issues relating to possible hike in the fuel prices and also readjustment of transport fares. Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain in his meeting with Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, who is also executive president of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik-Sramik Oikya Parishad, also discussed the issue. Earlier, the Parisad has placed a charter of demands for revising the transport fare. Officials also said a joint committee of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority and representatives from the Parishad is expected to sit on Sunday to further review the overall development concerning enhancement of fuel-oil price and transport fares. An official preferring not to be named said both the meetings gave their opinion in favour of raising diesel price upto Tk 5.0 per litre. Finance Minister AMA Muhith hinted Wednesday at the possibility of further raising the CNG (compressed natural gas) price within this year. He, however, ruled out the possibility of increase in the diesel price. Energy adviser to the Prime Minister, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan attended the first of the two meetings. Chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, secretaries of bridge and rail divisions and the secretary in-charge of the roads division attended the meeting with the transport sector.