A ten-day special launch service on the Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route from November 14 by private launch operators and a 14-day BIWTA special launch service on 22 route s from November 12 have been announced.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice-president of the Barisal launch owners’ association, told New Age that they would give extra trips with 12 triple-deck vessels daily between Dhaka and Barisal for the Eid passengers in November 14-24.
Kazi Wakil Newaz, deputy director the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told New Age that the BIWTA also announced a 14-day special launch service on 22 routes from Dhaka touching Narayanganj and Chandpur and on different routes of Barisal touching Bhola, Patuakhali, Madaripur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur in November 12-25.
Sources in water transport offices said advance tickets for journey on most routes during the five days before and after Eid were already sold out.
The passengers of state-owned BIWTC vessels on Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route in single trip have to pay Tk 565 for a first class cabin seat, Tk 355 for one second class cabin seat and Tk 95 for each deck seat while they have to pay Tk 700-750 for per first class cabin seat, Tk 1,500-1,750 for per VVIP cabin seat, Tk 400-450 per sofa and Tk 180-200 per deck seat of the private launch service.
Launch owners’ association leaders claimed that they were collecting less than government-fixed one way fare of Tk 190 for per deck seat on Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route and its four times for per cabin seat during Eid special trips to cover the reduced fare at other times round the year.
