Water Transport Cell (WTC), the operator of the lighter ships, has increased fares by 15 percent, effective from Monday (15 November), following the rise in fuel prices.
Confirming the matter, Ataul Kabir Ranju, Joint Secretary (Operations) of WTC said that the decision to increase the fare was taken at a meeting held in Dhaka on 15 November.
The meeting was attended by leaders of the Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association, Coastal Ship Owners Association, Container Ship Owners Association of Bangladesh, and Inland Vehicle Owners Association of Chattogram.
A statement signed by WTC Convener Nurul Haque, mentioned that the fare has been increased by 15 percent due to the adjustment of fuel price in Kutubdia, the outer harbour of Chattogram port.
Nurul Haque said that the existing fares have been increased due to the rising cost of fuel. He claimed that the fares had been reduced by 25 percent earlier due to the pandemic.
The goods are unloaded from the mother vessel at the outer harbour of Chattogram port and delivered to different shipping routes of the country in lighter ships.
At present, WTC has 1,300 ships under its jurisdiction.
The current list of lighter ships mentions 34 shipping routes in the country from the outer harbour of Chattogram port. The fare from the outer harbour to the Dhaka region is Tk415 per tonne.
The fare is Tk 390 on Barishal route, Tk 396 on Chandpur route, Tk 715 on Khulna route, Tk 673 on Mongla route, Tk 780 on Baghabari route, Tk 544 on Bhola route, Tk 922 on Chatok route, Tk 781 on Aricha route, Tk 815 on Manikganj route, Tk 565 on Patuakhali route, per tonne.
These existing fares have also been increased by 15 percent from 15 November.
On the night of 3 November, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources increased the price of diesel and kerosene by Tk15 per litre due to rising fuel prices in the international market.
At the consumer level, it increased from Tk65 to Tk80.
