Fares on multiple river routes from the capital have been raised by Tk50 to Tk600 without any official government directive, following a recent hike in fuel prices, triggering widespread frustration among passengers at Dhaka’s Sadarghat terminal.
A visit to the country’s busiest river port on Wednesday found launch operators collecting higher fares across deck and cabin categories, citing increased fuel costs as justification. The move has added to the financial strain on ordinary commuters already grappling with rising living expenses.
Launch operators say the fare adjustment was unavoidable due to higher fuel prices, arguing that fuel constitutes a major portion of operating costs and services cannot be sustained at previous rates. Passengers, however, have strongly criticized the unilateral increases in the absence of formal approval.
The information was gathered through conversations with launch owners, workers and passengers at Sadarghat.
On-site observations show that deck fares previously fixed at Tk300 have been increased to Tk350. In some cases, passengers reported being charged up to Tk100 more than the previous rate. Single cabin fares, earlier Tk1,000, have risen by Tk200 to Tk1,200, while double cabin fares have increased from Tk2,000 to Tk2,400.
Fares for family, luxury, semi-VIP and VIP cabins have also gone up by as much as Tk600, according to passengers and operators. Many travellers said the increases were being enforced ahead of any formal government decision.
“We are being forced to pay Tk350. Launch owners are imposing extra fares in the name of increased fuel prices,” said Kuddus Mia, a passenger travelling on the deck of a Barisal-bound Parabat launch. “Even at Tk300 they made a profit; now it is Tk350. There is no point in complaining as no effective action is taken.”
Other deck passengers, including Rakib Mia, Rahmatullah and Jabbar Mia, echoed similar concerns, saying increases of Tk50 to Tk100 place a heavy burden on low-income travelers who depend on deck services.
Shiblu Rahman, a Dhaka-based library owner travelling with his family in a cabin, said he uses launches regularly due to their relative comfort and safety compared to road transport.
“After the Padma Bridge opened, a single cabin cost Tk1,000 and a double cabin Tk2,000. Today I had to pay Tk2,400 for a double cabin while returning home with my family,” he said. “I did not question the increase, as fares naturally rise with fuel prices. But amid rising costs of essentials, this additional transport burden is making life harder.”
Rezaul Islam, owner of MV Farhan launch, said deck fares have been increased by Tk50 to Tk100 and cabin fares by Tk200, though he claimed current rates remain below earlier proposed levels.
“In view of the fuel price hike, we have submitted a proposal to the government seeking up to a 42% fare increase in the waterways sector. New fares will be finalized in an upcoming meeting with the government, which are likely to be higher than current rates,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, the government raised fuel prices per liter—diesel from Tk100 to Tk115, kerosene from Tk112 to Tk130, octane from Tk120 to Tk140, and petrol from Tk116 to Tk135. The revised prices came into effect on Sunday, adding further pressure on household expenses nationwide.
