The private water vessel owners are set to initiate a 13-day Eid special launch service on the Dhaka-Barisal route, but with a 20%-25% increased fare.
At least seven special vessels will hit the water route from the Dhaka end today to carry the homebound passengers, with 12 such transport vehicles ready to embark on the Eid special trip on July 26.
The owner of the triple-decker “Sundarbans” Launch Fleet, Saidur Rahman Rintu, also central vice-president of launch owners association, said normally 4-5 triple-decker launches ferried passengers every day between Dhaka and Barisal.
On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, the number of launches had been increased only to accommodate the growing number of passengers, added the leader. Sources said the launch cabin tickets had already been sold out before the trip started, despite the fact that advance booking was prohibited.
Rintu said they might witness a mad rush of passengers on July 24, 26, 27 from the Dhaka end and on August 1, 2 and 4 from Barisal.
Passengers of private triple-decker launches have to pay an excessive fare amounting to Tk1,100 for per first class cabin ticket, Tk600 for sofa seat and Tk250 for a seat in the deck.
“We change the fare only for two weeks before and after Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha, in line with the fare chart fixed by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority,” said Saidur Rahman Rintu.
He also said the realisation of excessive fares helped to cover the losses the vehicle owners incur around the year.
