PABNA, JUNE 02 (V7N) – Speedboat owners operating on the Kazirhat (Pabna) and Aricha (Manikganj) waterways have issued a demand for a fare increase to Tk 300 for the upcoming Eid journey, threatening to halt services if their request is not approved. This comes after recent complaints of overcharging, with boats already collecting Tk 255 instead of the government-mandated Tk 210.

Rais Uddin, president of the Kazirhat Speedboat Owners Association, confirmed the demand, stating that the proposed Tk 300 fare for the Eid period, before and after Eid, is necessary to mitigate "huge losses." He explained that during Eid, while passengers travel one way, boats often have to return empty, significantly increasing operational costs.

"We have already sent an application to the chairman of BIWTA," Rais Uddin said. "Without collecting 300 taka for the Eid journey before and after Eid, we will suffer huge losses. In this case, if the proposed fare is not approved, it will not be possible to operate the boat. The boat will be stopped at any time after June 4. Because no one will operate the boat if they are suffering losses."

He elaborated on the financial strain: "In normal times, the cost of each trip for a small boat is 3.5 thousand taka and for a large boat is 4 thousand taka. I have been asked to take 12 passengers for a fare of 210 taka. So, am I making a profit or a loss here? Then again, before and after Eid, I have to run an empty boat without passengers from one side. The losses are increasing further. How can the boat be run at such a loss? Therefore, we demand that permission be given to charge a fare of 300 taka only for the Eid journey."

Abdul Wakil, Port Officer of BIWTA's Nagarbari-Kazirhat Ghat office, acknowledged the owners' reluctance to adhere to the Tk 210 fare, noting that previous reports forced them to comply with the help of the army. He stated that he had heard about the Tk 300 demand from the BIWTA chairman. Wakil firmly reiterated that if the Tk 300 fare is not approved, the Tk 210 fare must be collected. He warned that "if irregularities are found, the boat's route permit will be canceled if necessary," emphasizing that "no kind of passenger suffering will be tolerated during the Eid journey."

Pabna Acting Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam also stressed that "there is no scope for collecting fares beyond the government-set fare." He confirmed that a meeting had already been held with boat owners and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth Eid journey. Upon learning of the potential speedboat closure, he stated, "We are alert, action will be taken against those who do so outside the rules."

The Kazirhat-Aricha waterway, approximately 16 kilometers long, has been operating speedboats since 2016 to facilitate faster travel between Dhaka and some northern districts. Currently, 142 12-seat speedboats operate on both sides, covering the distance in 15 to 20 minutes, a journey that would otherwise take over an hour. This route is used by more than a thousand people daily, with significantly higher numbers during Eid.

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