BIWTA doubles entrance fee at launch terminals

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has doubled fees to enter Sadarghat and other launch terminals in the country to increase revenue.

The new rate will come into effect from today, Kazi Wakil Nawaz, secretary of the BIWTA, told The Daily Star.

As per the new rate, a passenger has to pay Tk 10 instead of Tk 5, to enter the launch terminals in Barishal, Chandpur, Narayanganj, Patuakhali and Barguna to board a launch on different routes.

BIWTA official Nawaz said that they have taken the decision to increase revenue of the state agency as the earning from the current rate is not enough to run those terminals properly.

“We have to pay Tk 2 from the current rate (Tk 5) for passenger welfare fund apart from 15 per cent VAT,” he said.

“The authority actually got very little amount [from the current rate]. So, the authority decided to increase the rate,” he added.