Bangladesh
Launch Fare Launch fare increased by 30 percent
Dhaka, August 16: Launch fare has been increased by 30 percent in view of increase in fuel prices. The launch fare of a passenger has increased by 70 paise per kilometer for short distance and 60 paise per kilometer for long distance. The launch fare has been increased by 30.43 percent for short distances and 30 percent for long distances. On Tuesday (16 August) the Ministry of Shipping has issued a notification to increase the fare.
It is said that the launch fare up to 100 km has been increased from Tk 2.30 paisa to Tk 3 and for the distance of more than 100 km, the fare has been increased from taka Tk 2 to Tk 2.60 paisa. The minimum fare per person has been increased from Tk 25 to Tk 33. The new fare will be effective from Tuesday in the public interest, the notification said.
Before this, on August 8, a meeting was held at the secretariat to 'adjust the passenger fare of boats in view of the increase in fuel oil prices'. Since the Minister of State for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was on a foreign tour, the meeting held under the chairmanship of the Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Md. Mustafa Kamal, was attended by the launch owner and other related department officials.
In that meeting, a working committee headed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping SM Ferdous Alam was formed to consider the increase in the price of fuel oil. The committee includes launch owners and representatives of relevant departments. The committee made an offer from 19 to 50 percent of the rent after conducting calculations and negotiating with the owners from noon to night.
The government has increased the prices of diesel, petrol, kerosene, and octane since 12:00 PM on August 5. The price has increased by Tk 34 per liter of diesel, Tk 34 of kerosene, Tk 46 of octane, Tk 44 of petrol. After the increase in price, diesel has to be bought at Tk 114 per liter, kerosene at Tk 114, octane at Tk 135 and petrol at Tk 130 per liter.
