Staff Correspondent: Launch fare has been increased by 35.29 percent. Besides, the minimum fare per person has been increased from Tk 18 to Tk 30. As a result, the ongoing launch strike in protest of rising fuel prices has been called off.

A meeting of launch owners with the government at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) office in the capital's Motijheel on Sunday (November 7th) decided to increase fares and call off the strike.

The meeting was attended by Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (YAP) and Badiuzzaman Badal, Senior Vice-President, Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Secretary-General of Bangladesh Launch Owners Association, Aminur Rahman, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, BIWTA officials and launch owners.

It is learned that at present the launch fare is Tk 1.70 per km up to a distance of 100 km. According to the new decision, the launch fare will be Tk 2.30 per kilometer in this distance. At present, it is Tk 1.40 per kilometer above 100 km. According to the new decision, the fare for this distance will be 2 Taka per kilometer.

Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram, president of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (YAP) said the launch departure will start at 8 pm on Sunday (November 7).

On the other hand, BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq said the fare will be effective from today. Hopefully, we will be able to issue a notification about the rent increase soon. Accordingly, each launch dock will have a rental list.