Diesel price hike and declining passenger numbers have left boat operators in Dacope upazila of Khulna struggling to make ends meet, with many considering leaving the profession for alternative work.
Operating costs have nearly doubled following a Tk20-per-litre increase in diesel prices, while passengers are increasingly opting for road transport as road conditions have improved after the monsoon.
The 41km Kalabogi-Chalna route is served by 29 passenger boats. Each boat consumes around 8-9 litres of diesel per trip. The fare was previously Tk80 per passenger when diesel cost Tk115 a litre. Following the price hike, operators have raised fares by Tk10-12.
Boatmen said a boat usually carries 20-25 passengers per trip, making it increasingly difficult to cover fuel and labour costs. Only eight to nine boats are still operating regularly on the route, while most others have been taken out of service.
Boat owners must pay a driver Tk650 and an assistant Tk500 a day regardless of passenger numbers, further increasing their losses.
Sujit Mondal, Gaffar Hossain Gazi, Abdullah Gazi, Elahi Box, Khalek and Bidhan Sardar, who operate boats on the route, said passenger numbers were higher during the monsoon because many roads remain under construction or become muddy and difficult to use.
“Now that the roads have dried up, passengers prefer road transport to save time. At the current fare and fuel price, it is becoming difficult to keep the boats running,” they said.
Akbar Sardar, a trader travelling from Kalabogi to Chalna, said boat travel now costs more and takes longer. “During the monsoon, I used boats despite the higher cost because the roads were muddy. Now I use an engine-powered van to cut travel expenses,” he said.
Boatman Bakul Mallik said passenger numbers had fallen sharply. “We used to make a profit operating on this route. Now our income is barely enough to cover household expenses. If this continues, I will leave the boat and work as a day labourer,” he said.
Jafar Hawladar, who operates a boat for hire from Chalna Launch Ghat, said demand for reserved boats had also dropped. “No one has hired my boat in the past two days. After years in this profession, I am now considering switching to another occupation,” he said.
At Lakshmikhola ferry ghat, boatman Kamrul Islam said the fare had increased from Tk5 to Tk6-7 per passenger following the diesel price hike.
Nimai Saha, a diesel retailer at Chalna market, said a 200-litre barrel now costs Tk26,300, up from Tk22,300, while transportation from the Khulna depot costs another Tk200-250 per barrel.
Dacope Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Borhan Uddin Mithu said authorities were monitoring markets to prevent traders from charging excessive prices. “If there is a specific complaint against any diesel trader for overcharging, legal action will be taken immediately,” he said.
