Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has alleged that the leaseholders of BIWTA and Zila Parishad are collecting extra toll and harassing passengers at over 400 points of all the sea and river ports and launch and boat terminals, including Sadarghat, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
In a statement issued today, Jatri Kalyan Samity's Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, on behalf of the organisation, demanded some effective measures to stop "excessive toll collection" on an urgent basis.
"Despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's repeated directives, no effective measures were taken by the Ministry of Shipping or BIWTA to stop passenger harassment and excessive toll collection on waterways. Commuters are being harassed if they protest against the levy of excess toll....many are being beaten up also. The helpless passengers are expressing their anger at the government in many ways," he added.
He demanded that the Ministry of Shipping, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and the maritime transport authorities to take necessary measures to get rid of such situation.
