Passenger launch fares have been increased following the recent rise in fuel prices. Under the new revised fare structure, fares will increase by 23 poisha per kilometre for the first 100 kilometres. For distances beyond 100 kilometres, fares will rise by 20 poisha per kilometre.

Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam officially confirmed the fare increase after a bilateral meeting with launch owners at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

After the meeting, the shipping minister said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger) Association had demanded a 15 percent increase in fares per kilometre due to the recent rise in fuel prices and higher operating costs. But considering the overall comfort and financial capacity of general passengers, the government has decided to raise fares by 7.54 percent overall.

The minimum fare for travelling by waterway has also been raised from BDT 32 to BDT 35.

After the meeting, the minister made it clear that the fare increase was by no means something the government wanted. “But given the current global situation, there was no alternative to raising fuel prices. Keeping public hardship in mind, we’ve tried to adjust fares by the lowest possible rate,” he said.

He also said no form of anarchy or unscrupulous and authoritarian behaviour taking advantage of the fare increase would be tolerated.

The bus fare was also increased by 17 poisha per kilometre yesterday. For inter-district buses, the fare has been raised from BDT 2.23 to BDT 2.40 per kilometre. In Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, the fare has increased from BDT 2.53 to BDT 2.70 per kilometre.