Ferries hike charges for cars

Charges for private vehicles boarding ferries are expected to rise, because of the recent hike in fuel oil rates, Shipping & Inland Water Transport Minister Shahjahan Khan said on Saturday.

Charges for private cars are in for the hike, which the Minister says will not be much.

He said ferry fares were not raised during the last two occasions when fuel prices went up . “That is why it is being decided to increase it this time.”

According to the minister, passenger buses and normally loaded trucks were excluded from the hike . But those trucks which have loaded beyond prescribed limits will invite a hike in ferry fares.

At present, private cars are charged Tk 350 and trucks Tk 1,400 for ferry transfers.

The Minister said tough action will be taken against the rapists, while referring to the rape of a readymade garment worker by a bus driver and his helper on a running bus.

The female worker was raped on Thursday. Police had arrested the driver and his helper who admitted raping her.

On Wednesday in Patuakhali, two teenage sisters were raped by two motorcyclists. Locals had nabbed one and handed him over to police while the other managed to flee.

On Jan 16 early hours, another 20-year-old ready-made garment worker was gang-raped by four individuals. She was said to be in critical condition. Police could not arrest anyone till Wednesday midnight.

These incidents follow the gang-rape of a medical student in New Delhi which triggered a wave of furious protests across India .

The victim later succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital.bdnews24.com

Leave a Reply