Operators have restored regular fares after the government allowed them to run their buses at full capacity across the country from Tuesday.
On the first day, some conductors were found to charge extra fares and take standing passengers on different routes in the city during peak and off-peak hours.
The health guidelines were also not maintained strictly by the majority of bus operators.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) allowed operators to run their buses at full capacity on August 27, setting criteria of not taking standing passengers and using masks.
Operators were allowed to provide services with 60 per cent increased fares by keeping half of the seats of all passenger vehicles vacant on June 1.
The government issued order to follow health guidelines like using sanitizer and mask and washing of seats in a bid to check the coronavirus spread after movement of public transport was allowed on a limited scale.
Restrictions except health guidelines were withdrawn after bus operators recently sought permission to run their buses at full capacity.
Most of bus operators started realizing previous bus fare after getting permission for such seat arrangements.
Passengers of short-distance claimed that they had to pay much higher compared to the fare before the pandemic.
Oliar Rahman, a bank employee, told the FE that he paid previous fare of Tk 25 to go to Dainik Bangla Crossing from Mohammadpur bus stop on the day.
The fare was increased to Tk 40 from June 1 when public transport resumed after two-month lockdown.
Fare on routes like Mirpur-Azimpur, Mirpur-Shahbagh-Gulistan, Farmgate-Mirpur-Airport and others also became normal, said sources.
The people who use buses for short distance had to pay higher fares, they added.
Md Iqramul Hoque, a passenger who was going to Katabon from National Press Club, said the conductor charged him Tk 15 for this short distance.
Galib Hosain, a bus conductor of Bahon Paribahan, said they are not allowing any passengers without seat.
The minimum fare has been set at Tk 15 for which a passenger had to pay the amount even if he/she goes two or three-kilometre distance.
The bus and minibus fare was Tk 1.70 per kilometre in Dhaka city, fixed by the BRTA in 2016.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader said legal action would be taken against the buses which would violate health regulations during journey.
Earlier on Saturday, the minister asked bus operators to charge regular fare with effect from September 1, withdrawing increased fare and restrictions on the number of passengers amid COVID-19 outbreak.
He also said buses would be able to carry passengers on every seat, but they must not take any standing passenger, bus employees and passengers must wear masks inside a bus and there must be soap, water and sanitiser inside a bus while it must be cleaned up before and after every trip.
However, the mobile court of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority filed 123 cases on Tuesday and fined Tk 137,800 for violating rules under the road transport act 2018.
BRTA sources said 11 mobile teams conducted drives in different parts of the city including Ramna, Vatara, Gabtoli, Hamayetpur, Hatkhola, Mohakhali, Metro Rail circle, Saidabad, and Motijheel.
During a virtual meeting with Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, the road transport and bridges minister warned to take legal action against the violators.
Requesting the bus operators to follow regular fare rate and health regulations, he urged them to hang fare charts inside all buses.
Khandaker Enayetullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said stern action will be taken against operators if found guilty of realising higher fares.
The bus operators have also been instructed for not allowing passengers without facemasks, he said.
smunima@yahoo.com
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com