BIWTA leaseholders collecting illegal tolls from passengers: Jatri Kalyan Samiti

Jatri Kalyan Samiti has alleged that the leaseholders of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Zila Parishad are collecting extra tolls from passengers at more than 400 docking points on the waterways across the country  as tips for the Eid-ul-Fitr.
 
In a press release issued on Saturday (23 April), the passenger welfare association urged the government to take effective measures to stop the collection of additional tolls.
 
In the release, Jatri Kalyan Samiti Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said, "The leaseholders employed by BIWTA are illegally extorting money from anyone going near the river through the boat docks at the rate of Tk20-100. 
 
"Whereas there is an agreement to charge a fare per passenger for crossing the river by boat only," he said. 
 
"Such scenarios are not only seen in Sadarghat but also more than 400 river ports and ferries across the country leased by BIWTA," he said.
 
He further noted that no effective action has been taken by the shipping ministry or BIWTA to stop such practice despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's directive to stop the harassment of passengers on the waterways.
 
Passengers are being harassed if they protest against such extra toll collection. Moreover, the leaseholders gave responsibility to unruly youths of the area for collecting tolls at these docks and they even beat passengers who were protesting the tolls, the statement read.
 
Mozammel Haque demanded that the shipping ministry, Consumer Rights Protection Authority and Department of Maritime Transport take the necessary steps to resolve the issue.