Passenger launch fares hiked
After public transport fares were increased, passenger launch fares have also been increased. It has been increased by 23 paisa per kilometre up to 100 kilometres. But for distances more than 100 kilometres, it has been increased by 20 paisa.
Passenger launch fares have been increased by 7.54 percent. As a result of which, the minimum fare set for passengers is Tk 35.
State Minister for Shipping Sheikh Robiul Alam confirmed the fare hike following a bilateral meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday (23 September).
He said launch owners had demanded a 15 percent fare hike citing higher fuel prices, increased management costs and other expenses. However, considering the passengers' interests, the fare was increased by 7.54 percent. The minimum fare, which earlier stood at Tk 32, has also been increased to Tk 35.
"The fare hike is not desirable. But given the global situation, there was no other option but to increase the fuel price. So, considering the hardship of the people, we have tried to limit the increase in the minimum fare as much as possible. We should not allow anyone to create chaos on the issue of fare hike or to take advantage of the hike in fuel prices to act arbitrarily," the minister said.
Replying to a question, he said the price of CNG had not gone up. Thus, there is no scope to increase fees for CNG-powered vehicles. "If we get any information that passengers are being charged extra fares, necessary action will surely be taken," he said.
Meanwhile, Gholam Nabi Alamgir, President of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (passenger transport) owners' association, said the fare for the first 100 kilometres had been increased from Tk 2.95 to Tk 3.18 per kilometre. For distances more than 100 kilometres, the fare had been increased from Tk 2.52 to Tk 2.72 per kilometre.
"Our proposal was for a higher increase. But considering the country's situation, we have agreed on this rate," he said.
Earlier, after fuel prices were increased, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger) Association, an organisation of launch owners who operate passenger launches on inland waterways, had demanded an increase in the fare of passenger launches.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the increase in fuel prices in the domestic market, the fares of buses and minibuses on metro, inter-district and long-distance routes have been increased by 17 paisa per kilometre.
Road Transport and Highways Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges issued a gazette notification on Wednesday (23September) regarding this matter.
According to the gazette notification signed by Assistant Secretary Jasim Uddin, the fare of buses operating in Dhaka and Chattogram metro areas has been increased from Tk 2.53 to Tk 2.70 per passenger kilometre.
For buses and minibuses operating on inter-district and long-distance routes, the fare has been increased from Tk 2.23 to Tk 2.40 per passenger kilometre.
Besides, the fare of minibuses operating in Dhaka and Chattogram metro areas as well as buses and minibuses operating within the districts under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA)—Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Manikganj and Dhaka—has been increased from Tk 2.43 to Tk 2.60 per passenger kilometre.
The minimum fare for buses and minibuses operating in Dhaka and Chattogram metro areas has also been set at Tk 10 and Tk 8, respectively.