Launch fare jumps 30%, ferry fare 20%

Following the recent hike in fuel price, launch fare has been increased by 30% and ferry fare by 20%.

The minimum fare for travelling by launches has increased from Tk25 to Tk33, according to a notice issued by the shipping ministry yesterday.

Launch fare has been hiked from Tk2.3 to Tk3 per kilometre for the first 100 km and from Tk2 to Tk2.6 per kilometre after that.

The newly increased rate became effective yesterday, said the shipping ministry. 

Following the highest fuel price hike in 20 years on 5 August, the prices of diesel and kerosene jumped by Tk34 to reach Tk114 per litre, petrol by Tk44 to reach Tk130 per litre and octane by Tk46 to reach Tk135 per litre.

After that, the launch owners demanded to increase the water vessel fares by 100% – from Tk2.3 to Tk4.6 per kilometer for a distance of 100km and from Tk2 to Tk4 per kilometer for a distance above 100 km.

On 8 August, a meeting was held at the secretariat with the shipping ministry secretary at the chair to adjust the passenger fare of water vessels in line with oil price hike. 

In that meeting, a working committee headed by Additional Secretary of Shipping Ministry SM Ferdous Alam was formed to consider the increase of fare. The committee includes launch owners and representatives of relevant departments.

The committee proposed to increase launch fare by around 19-50% of the current fare after negotiating with the vessel owners, and the government accepted a 30% rise in fare.

On 7 November last year, launch fares jumped by 35.29%. At that time, launch fare was increased from Tk1.7 to Tk2.3 for the first 100 km and from Tk1.4 to Tk2 for a distance above 100 km. The minimum fare had also been increased from Tk18 to Tk25.

Ferry fare increases again

The ferry fare has increased by 20% due to fuel price hike. 

The new fare will be effective from Wednesday on all the routes across the country, said chairman of Bangladesh Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Ahmed Shamim Al Razi. 

He said ferries of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) are currently carrying vehicles on eight routes across the country.

The eight routes include Paturia-Daulatdia, Aricha-Kazirhat, Shimulia-Banglabazar, Shimulia-Majhikandi, Harinaghat/Chandpur-Shariatpur, Bhola-Laxmipur and Laharhat-Veduria.

With the latest hike, the BIWTC increased the ferry fare by around 40% in a span of two months. Earlier, the ferry fare was increased by 20% on 16 June due to the rise in fuel prices.