From Tuesday, commuters will have to shell out more for a ferry ride in Bangladesh. This is because the government has increased launch fares in view of the recent 42.5% hike -- from Tk 80 to Tk 114 a litre -- in the diesel price. Fares have been raised by Tk 0.70 to Tk 3 per km for the first 100 km from the existing Tk 2.30 per km. And then beyond the first 100 km, the fare has been hiked by Tk 0.60 to Tk 2.60 per km from the existing Tk 2. The minimum fare has also been fixed at Tk 33, a Tk 8 hike from the existing Tk 25, according to a government notification. Read: FIR lodged over Dhaka BRT girder tragedy Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Authority (BIWTA) refixed the highest and lowest fares per km for passengers following the recommendations of the working committee formed by the Shipping Ministry in this regard, it said. Against the backdrop of the launch owners' proposal for a steep fare hike, the Shipping Ministry had formed the working committee to recommend new rates by taking into account the potential implications of fuel price hike for all stakeholders. In November 2021, after a 23% hike in diesel prices, launch fares were increased by more than 35%. The minimum launch fare was raised to Tk 25 from Tk 18.  

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has increased the fare for its passenger ships and ferry services by 20 per cent effective from Sunday. This was announced in a BIWTC press release on Thursday. Also read: Return rush at Paturia ferry terminal It said the authority has re-fixed the fare in the wake of price hike of fuel oil. “From 6 am on June 19 the fare will be effective for all kinds of vessels, including  passenger ships,” it said. Also read: Barishal: 3 ferry owners fined for overloading