Dhaka, May 30 -- The transport authority's fare fixation committee made the recommendation to offset the losses facing operators as each bus will only be allowed to fill half its seating capacity to meet social distancing requirements.

"Every bus must keep half of their seats empty. Bus owners are likely to incur big losses as a result," BRTA Chairman Yusuf Ali Mollah told bdnews24.com on Saturday.

"That's why the fare committee has recommended increasing the rate by 80 percent. This means that operators will take 80 percent of the fares from half the passengers."

The proposal has been sent to the road transport ministry, according to Yusuf.

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