Photo : Messenger
Passengers traveling on the Aricha-Kazirhat ferry route have raised concerns about being charged an extra fare. Ticket collectors from Subhana Enterprises, the ticket agent, are allegedly collecting Tk 40, which includes an additional Tk 4, instead of the fixed ferry fare of Tk 36 set by BIWTC on the Aricha-Kazirhat sea route.
Complaints suggest that passengers who refuse to pay the extra amount are denied boarding, and instances of physical assault have been reported. Anisur Rahman, a passenger traveling from Dhaka to Pabna, shared his experience of being charged Tk 40 instead of the prescribed Tk 36. When he resisted paying the extra Tk 4, collectors forced him to wait without issuing a ticket for over 10 minutes. Eventually, he had to pay the additional Tk 4 to board the ferry.
Another passenger, Manowar Hossain, claimed that they were forcibly charged Tk 4 more than the ticket price. When he resisted, he was physically assaulted, with collectors asserting that the extra money was their commission and threatening harm if the matter was reported to authorities or journalists.
Despite the completion of infrastructure projects like the Yamuna Bridge and Padma Bridge, passengers lament that the coercive behavior at Aricha Ghat remains unchanged, and there is a lack of oversight.
An anonymous 50-year-old ticket collector from Subhana Enterprises revealed the economic challenges faced by collectors, citing low daily attendance and the need to support their families. The collector stated that they are compelled to charge additional commissions from passengers, including the extra Tk 4 beyond the ticket price.
In response, BIWTC Aricha office DGM Shah Md. Khalid Nawaz clarified that while the lessee manages passenger transport tickets, collecting more than the specified ticket price is not permissible. He assured that necessary action would be taken against the lessee upon receiving specific complaints and informing higher authorities.
Messenger/Sami/Shahin
