Launch fare also raised

Violating their earlier commitment the owners of launches have been charging increased fare from the passengers traveling to different routes on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr to celebrate the festival with their dear and near ones.
A big portion of the tickets have already found their way to the black marketeers putting the members of traveling public to serious inconveniences.
 Some leaders of the launch owners associations announced on last Wednesday of 10 percent deduction from the fare fixed by the government marking the Eid. But in reality the situation is just the reverse, complained some passengers who travel through different routes.
The government has fixed Tk 255 as fare from Dhaka to Barisal. But the passenger has to pay Tk 300 or even more for a ticket of Tk. 255, it is alleged.
Coco-5 Launch is charging Tk 300 instead of Tk 286 from a passenger traveling to Lalmohon in Bhola. The owners of many launches are also following the same policy.
 Eagle-4 is charging government fixed rate of Tk 286, but ignoring 10 percent deduction. Rayhan-4 is collecting Tk 356, ignoring the government’s rate, it is alleged.
On the other hand, a few lunches, including, Sundarban and Surovi charge fare upholding the pledge made by their leaders of deduction of 10 per cent of the fare in all routes.
M Shafiqur Rahman, Manager of Juboraj-2 said that they usually charge fare less than that of the amount fixed by the government during Eid festival. “We are trying to compensate for the ‘Off Season”, he said.
Saiful Haque Khan, Joint-Director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transports Authority (BIWTA) said, legal action would be taken if anyone charges increased fare defying the government fixed rates.
Some passengers said, the announcement of 10 percent reduction is nothing but a mockery with the passengers. The cabins of all double-decker launches have already been booked, some passengers said.