Transport owners fear trouble as fuel oils go costlier

Jubair Hasan Transport owners and businessmen are worried over the future of business, saying that they are facing a serious crisis of confidence due to the frequent price hike of fuels that could lead to chaos in the country's communications system. They have expressed the fear following the hike in the prices of octane, diesel, petrol, kerosene and furnace oil by Tk 5.0 per litre Thursday night. The industry players told the FE that the sector would be in dire straits in the coming days if the government did not show a pro-industry attitude towards it where millions of uneducated and half-educated people are directly employed. "I don't understand the government's stand over the sector. It seems to me that it does not want the development of the labour-intensive sector. That's why, it is increasing the prices of fuels frequently," Chairman of Bangabandhu Transport Company Nasir Hossain said. Buses of the company operate on the city's busy Gulistan-Airport route. The repeated price hike of fuels has caused panic among the owners who are facing a serious crisis of confidence, he said, adding the latest price hike has come at a time when spiraling prices of tyres, spare parts and other accessories are severely affecting the business. "This is the third price hike of fuels in just six months. How we'll survive," Kamrul Ahsan, another owner, said, adding many owners have left the business after incurring big financial losses. His transport company had nearly 130 buses in 2008 and the number came down to less than 75 at present. However, on visiting various bus stations and ticket counters it was found that vehicle owners of the diesel-driven vehicles in the capital were yet to raise transport fares. Owners will start bargaining with the government from next Sunday for a fresh hike in bus fares. Secretary General of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity Khandoker Enayetullah said they will soon sit with the concerned bodies over readjustment of the transport fares. We want readjustment of fares in line with fuel price hike. He said the government should give special attention to the welfare of the struggling sector.