The increased fares have been approved at a recent meeting between Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Bangladesh Inland Waterways (Passenger vessels) Association (BIWA).

Fares have been upped to Tk .90 per kilometre from Tk .85 for distances up to 100km and Tk .75 per kilometre from Tk .72 for distances over 100km, said Shahbuddin Milon, vice-president of the BIWA yesterday.

However, the new fare rates are applicable for launches bound for Chandpur, Barisal, Bhola, Pirojpur, Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalakathi.

Milon said under the new rate, they will charge Tk 146 for a trip to Barisal from Dhaka.

"We always charge less fares than the government-approved ones. Besides, we take a number of poor passengers free of cost on every trip," he said while defending allegation of taking extra fares.

Earlier, bus operators also increased fares on October 1. However, there are allegations that many buses are taking increased fares at will, as the government is yet to provide them with new fare charts.