The increased fare will be effective from December 26.

The special services arranged by state-owned Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) seem too insufficient to tackle the 'Eid rush' of passengers.

The ticket and reservation for the launch cabins have already started selling on the black market.

The one-way fare per passenger on Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route has been increased from Tk 700 to Tk 900 for a double seated cabin, from Tk 350 to Tk 500 for a single seated cabin, from Tk 1200 to Tk 2000 for a VIP cabin, from Tk 200 to Tk 300 for a sofa, from Tk 100 to Tk 150 for a deck seat, sources said.

The one-way bus fare on the same route has been increased from Tk 250 to Tk 350 that is to be executed from December 26.

The fare on the same route fixed by the government is Tk 284 for a bus passenger and Tk 120 for a launch deck passenger, owners' association sources said.

Claiming that they carry passengers in less than the government approved rate throughout the year, Golam Mawla and Golam Salek, leaders of the launch and bus owners associations of Barisal, said they are charging the 'average government rate' for only twenty days on the occasion of two Eids to make up for the losses.

Giasuddin, Barisal depot traffic manager of BRTC, said they have shortage of vehicles.

The passengers demanded arrangement of special road and river transport under government supervision and vigilance on overloading and security matter.