Launch fares hiked following bus fare increase

Public transport fares are rising in the wake of fuel price hikes and launch fares have consequently been increased. 

The fare has been raised by 23 paisa per kilometre for the first 100 kilometres and by 20 paisa per kilometre for distances exceeding 100 kilometres. 

The minimum launch fare has also been set at Tk35.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam announced the fare hike for waterways on Wednesday following a meeting with launch owners.

Earlier, on Tuesday, bus fares were increased by 17 paisa per kilometre. For long-distance buses the fare per kilometre rose from Tk2.23 to Tk2.40, while in the Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas it increased from Tk2.53 to Tk2.70.

This came despite bus owner associations having proposed a fare hike of 20 paisa per kilometre for long-distance routes and 18 paisa for city transport.