PABNA, MAY 26 (V7N) – Passengers using the Kazirhat-Aricha speedboat route in Pabna are complaining of significant overcharging, with boat owners allegedly collecting Tk 255 per fare instead of the government-mandated Tk 210. Beyond the inflated prices, there are also accusations of overcrowding and insufficient provision of life jackets, leading to safety concerns and passenger suffering.

Despite the Ministry setting the speedboat fare at Tk 150 in 2018 and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) verbally agreeing to higher fares with owners in the interim, the BIWTA officially fixed the fare at Tk 210 for the Aricha-Kazirhat waterway on April 9 of this year. However, boat owners are reportedly disregarding this new directive.

A field visit to the Kazirhat Ghat area on Sunday (May 25) revealed that tickets were being sold at counters for Tk 250, with the price clearly printed on the ticket. An additional Tk 5 entry fee to the ghat brings the total fare to Tk 255. Notably, the tickets bore no official seal from BIWTA or related organizations. Passengers who questioned the fare were informed that this was the required payment, leaving them with no choice but to pay the increased amount.

Passengers report being charged Tk 45 more than the official fare. Furthermore, despite a legal capacity of 12 passengers, speedboats are allegedly carrying 18-22 people, packed together. While life jackets are sometimes provided, they are often missing, creating significant safety risks.

"They don't even respect the government. Will they respect us there?" questioned Rashidul Islam, a passenger traveling from Pabna to Dhaka. "There is no opportunity to talk too much when you go to the counter. You have to go at this fare, otherwise you are treated humiliatingly by telling them to go another way. Who will see this?"

Shafiqur Rahman, a private company employee returning to Savar, Dhaka, from the Ishwardi Project, expressed his frustration: "The government has fixed the fare at 210 taka. However, they are charging 255 taka. They are charging 250 taka at the counter and another 5 taka when they enter the ghat. However, as far as I know, the entry fee to the ghat is included in that 210 taka. This is how the pockets of the common people are being ripped off constantly. These should be stopped."

Dulal Hossain, Shariful Islam, and other passengers highlighted the overcrowding, stating that speedboats are carrying 20-22 passengers. They also noted that while drivers are now providing life jackets in the presence of journalists, they were not doing so previously, leaving passengers in insecurity.

In response to the allegations, speedboat drivers Shafiqul Islam and Shamim Hossain argued that a single trip requires 22 liters of oil, costing Tk 2,700-2,900, in addition to driver and ghat expenses. They claimed that operating at the fixed fare would lead to losses for owners and prevent them from running their boats. Regarding life jackets and extra passengers, they asserted that passengers often remove life jackets due to heat, and that larger boats sometimes carry "one or two extra people."

Rais Uddin, president of the Boat Owners Association, stated that the Tk 250 fare has been collected for a long time. He acknowledged the recent new fare announcement but attributed the lack of adjustment to his busy schedule and absence from town. He pledged to adjust the fare collection soon upon his return.

BIWTA sources indicate that 142 12-seat speedboats are currently operating on the 16-kilometer Kazirhat-Aricha waterway, which also hosts four ferries and nine launches. This speedboat service, launched in 2016 to facilitate faster travel between Dhaka and some northern districts, reduces travel time across the waterway from over an hour to 15-20 minutes, attracting over a thousand daily commuters, with approximately 5,500 passengers daily during Eid.

Abdul Wakil, Port Officer of BIWTA's Nagarbari-Kazirhat Ghat office, affirmed that there is "no scope for charging more than the fixed fare." He confirmed that a notification fixing the fare at Tk 210 was issued a couple of weeks ago and that they have already discussed adhering to the new fare and other rules with boat owners. However, he admitted that they are still collecting the additional fare. Wakil stated that BIWTA would hold further discussions with the owners and conduct a drive with local administration's help. He warned that if instructions are not followed, route permits could be canceled, and a solution would be sought before the Eid pilgrimage commences.

Md. Morshedul Islam, Pabna Bera Upazila Executive Officer, mentioned a recent drive that resulted in a Tk 20,000 fine, but noted that irregularities persist. He added that boat operations stop from both sides during drives, but the administration remains active and will cooperate with BIWTA if requested.

END/SRP/RH/