Toll on waterways

People, who visit different places for various purposes such as business, treatment, educational activities and travelling, need not pay entrance fees or toll at bus terminal, train station and air port. However, passengers are required to pay toll when they travel via waterways. Only waterway stations collect entrance fees or toll on the plea of government policy. Such practices are irrational and discriminatory.

The Bangladesh Inland Transport Authority has doubled the entrance fee from Tk 5 to Tk10 per passengers at each of waterway port or station. This is disturbing for passengers although the amount is small. It is often said that the country's waterways should be revived and used more frequently for easing burden from roads and make trading activities more cost-effective, this irritant is not good for promotion of waterways. The government should give rather a positive signal to movement of water vessels for commercial purposes.

Md. Zillur Rahaman

Gandaria, Dhaka