Due to the increase in the price of fuel oil, the fare of passenger launches on all routes of the country has increased. According to the decision, fares for launches and ships have increased by 30% and ferries by 20%. The new launch fares have come into effect from Tuesday (16 August). Earlier on 6 August, the bus fares were increased up to 22%.
BIWTC Director (Trade) SM Ashikuzzaman said that in view of the increase in the price of fuel, the government has adjusted the fares of ferries and launches. The launch fare has been increased by 70 paisa per kilometre. Instead of Tk 2 and 30 paise for the first 100 kilometres, now you have to pay Tk 3. And after that distance, it has been increased from Tk 2 to Tk 2 taka and 60 paisa per kilometre. The minimum fare has increased from Tk 25 to Tk 33. This fare applies to BIWTC vessels as well as privately owned ones.
The launch owners, however, proposed to double the fare after the increase in fuel prices. Accordingly, a seven-member committee has been convened by Ferdous Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, to re-fix the launch fare. The committee recommended raising launch fares in eight tiers from a minimum of 19.50 to a maximum of 50%. From there, the Ministry of Shipping issued a notification approving the proposal to increase the fare by 30%.
According to BIWTC information, at present, there are ferries plying on these six routes – Paturia-Daulatdia, Aricha-Kazirhat, Shimulia-Banglabazar or Mazhirkandi, Chandpur-Shariatpur, Bhola-Laxmipur, and Laharhati-Veduria. If the new fare comes into effect, the fare will be Tk 1,056 for a one-tonne goods vehicle, Tk 2,520 for a big bus, Tk 1,200 for a microbus, and Tk 120 for a motorcycle through Paturia-Daulatdia wharf (without VAT). Earlier, on 16 June, the ferry fare was increased by 20% due to the rise in fuel prices. With this, ferry fares increased by 40% in two months.
