BANGLADESH

Launch owners’ association demanded double fare to tackle rising fuel prices

Launch operators have joined in the ongoing transport strike, demanding upward adjustment of fares to the increased price of diesel.

They announced on Saturday that they will not operate their launches until their demand for an increase in fares is met in line with the price hike of diesel.

The organization sent a letter to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority in this regard on Friday (November 5).

The owners’ proposal to increase the launch fare has been sent in a letter to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). On Friday (November 5), the Bangladesh Inland Navigation sent a letter to the BIWTA chairman proposing a fare hike.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, president of the association, said “I sent the proposal to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) for raising launch fares per kilometre. The chairman of BIWTA assured that he will inform me about the matter by Saturday noon. But he didn’t do so. The launch owners came to me and said they don’t have the money to purchase fuel. In this situation, none of us would operate the launches.”

He said the owners will not operate their launches until their demands including raising fare are not met.

The association demanded to increase the fare to Tk 3.4 per kilometre from Tk 1.7 for travelling the first 100 kilometres and Tk 2.8 per kilometre from Tk 1.4 for beyond the 100 kilometres.

To reach a solution about the crisis, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) will hold a meeting with the leaders of transport operators and workers today (Sunday).

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