Speed boat operators on the Cox’s Bazar-Moheshkhali route were charging passengers an extra Tk55 on Saturday following the government’s announcement of a hike in fuel oil prices.
The government on Friday announced that it was going to increase the price of diesel by Tk34 to Tk 114 per litre.
One passenger, Kislu Tutul, complained he had been charged Tk140 instead of the usual Tk85.
When asked about the matter, the driver of the speed boat said he would not justify the fare increase. He added that it was up to passengers to decide whether they would use the transport or not.
Moheshkhali’s Qutubjom Union Parishad Chairman Sheikh Kamal said: “Based on the diesel price hike, the fare could be increased by Tk20, not Tk55.”
Meanwhile, Moheshkhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Yasin said speed boat fare had been fixed at Tk115, not Tk140, due to the price hike.
Anyone charging passengers more than that would face legal action, he warned.
The government on Friday announced that it had raised all fuel oil prices, which came into effect on Saturday.
Now the price of diesel and kerosene per litre at the consumer level is Tk114, octane Tk135, and petrol Tk130.