Cabins reserved for VIPs, deck tickets costlier ahead of Eid
As the demand for launch tickets shoots up on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, passengers fall prey to the trickery of launch operators and staff and are compelled to pay much higher fare to reach their destination.
About a million people leave the capital by passenger vessel to meet their near and dear ones, resulting in a sell out of tickets for all directions to the southern part of the country.
Tickets of designated passenger cabins of the launches have already been sold out. Even the launch crew who have sleeping arrangements on board have also sold out their accommodation for hefty amounts.
Ministers, political leaders, government, police and army officials, who enjoy quota privileges, have secured most of the tickets of the cabins, said the launch owners.
“Many cabin tickets of Dhaka-Barisal route were reserved for those special persons. As a result commoners face difficulties to get cabin tickets,” said Badiuzzaman Badal, senior vice president of Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carrier’s) Association.
Badal added that thousands of passengers would travel on the deck on first-come- first-serve basis.
Failing to get a cabin ticket after much effort, an irate passenger said,
“My family and I will have to bear untold sufferings, if we travel on deck. It would be an absolute nightmare to me.”
Staff of different launches said most of the cabins were booked before the 15th of Ramadan (August 26).
The owners and the staff are allegedly charging excessive fares from the homebound passengers in absence of proper monitoring from the authority.
According to the fare chart of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the usual rates of fares on Dhaka-Barisal route are Tk 300 to Tk 350 for luxury chair, Tk 736 for single cabin and Tk 1472 for double cabin.
During the Eid rush, the fares soar up to Tk 400 to Tk 500 for luxury chair, Tk 1000 for single cabin and Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,400 for double cabin.
The fares on the other southern routes including Dhaka-Bhola, Dhaka-Patuakhali and Dhaka-Chandpur also marked major rise.
A staff of MV Kirtonkhola-1 of Dhaka-Barisal route offered this correspondent to arrange a cabin for Tk 24,00 while the normal fare is Tk 1472.
Badiuzzaman Badal, also a launch owner, denied the allegations of charging extra fare. He also warned of strict action if such allegation is proved against any launch.
He also claimed that owners run their launches at lowest ticket fare all the year round to compete with the other launches. During the Eid season they charge fare according to the BIWTA rate, which seems to be higher than the normal period.
According to a source at BIWTA, most launch owners enjoy the blessings of one or the other political party.
A syndicate of launch workers and leaders of different worker organisations play a significant role in charging higher fare, said another source at Sadarghat launch terminal.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said, “As far as I know, no launch owner is charging additional fare from the passengers. Special teams will keep vigil to check cases of charging extra fare. Stern action will be taken, if anyone charge extra fare.”
“We have deployed a number of officials at Sadarghat terminal so that no launch owner can charge extra fare. If the allegation of charging extra fare is proved, the route permit of that launch will be suspended,” said Md Shafiqul Haque, director (traffic) of BIWTA.
Officer-in-Charge of Kotawali Police Station Md Salauddin Khan said additional police force has already been deployed at Sadarghat terminal to keep law and order under control.
Fare of deck tickets will be reduced by 10 percent ahead of Eid, announced Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carrier’s) Association, at a press conference on Thursday.
Passengers are made to pay 40 to 60 percent higher ticket price in advance purchase from water transport office and 80 to 100 percent more for purchases on the black market, reports our Barisal correspondent.
Fares of launches, trawlers and ferries plying different inter-district routes have also been increased by 40 to 60 percent.
