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Collecting extra tolls at launch terminals

Effective action demanded


Published : 23 Apr 2022 09:56 PM | Updated : 24 Apr 2022 03:51 PM

It has been alleged that the leaseholders of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the district council are violating the terms of the agreement and collecting additional tolls at more than 400 launch terminal points ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded to take effective steps to stop the collection of additional tolls in all the ports and launch terminals places in the country including Sadarghat river port.

Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Secretary General of the association made the demand in a written statement sent to the media on Saturday. 

According to the statement, additional toll is being charged per passenger for crossing the river at Sadarghat. However, according to the agreement with the government, fare should be charged per passenger at the ferry crossing. 

For example, if someone crosses the river regularly with family and, the leaseholders employed by BIWTA are illegally collecting money from them at the rate of Tk 30-100. Such looting and trade is taking place not only in passenger crossings points of the country's waterways at Sadarghat, but also at ferry crossing points owned by the district council in remote areas of different districts, added the statement.

Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly instructed to stop harassment and toll anarchy on the waterways, no effective action has been taken by the Ministry of Shipping or BIWTA.

According to the written statement passengers are being harassed if they protest against the collection of such extra toll. 

Jatri Kalyan Samity demanded the Ministry of Shipping and the Department of Consumer Protection to take necessary steps to alleviate the sufferings of people.