From Barishal Launch Ghat: ‘Take meal at home, come and get asleep in lunch. Opening eyes you will see that you have come to Dhaka. Let there be Padma bridge or more like that but the appeal of launch journey will no go.’
The ferry will be unemployed due to Padma bridge, Barisal and Kuakata are being connected by rail. The Dhaka-Barisal route bus is expected to be significantly reduced. In such cases, what will be the consequences of the launch of the Barisal-Dhaka route? Labor leader Parimal Chandra Das made such a remark by throwing a smile on him. They do not give any importance to this change.
Padma Bridge, the dream of the Southern people is now just a matter of time. The bridge will have a profound impact on the socio-economic conditions, living conditions of the region and even in the out look. Unemployment will be related to the ferry associated people. Many in the Mawa Ghat are thinking about changing professions. Many are dreaming of going to village homes (Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur) and attend offices in the capital through regular journey. Like many other cities around the world many are mulling to going to Dhaka in the morning and back in the evening. The government is also planning to put up planning centering the Padma Bridge. The expressway is being built. The car will run at a speed of one hundred kilometers in the Dhaka City. Metrorail will be seen within minutes. However, those concerned do not think Padma's push will reach the launch.
Barishal Metropolitan Sramik League General Secretary Parimal Chandra Das said, "The passengers of the launch will not be reduced, it will increase day by day. Even if you take the bus free, many will not go. They'll go by lunch. No one can provide comfort like launch. When I get to the VIP cabin, I feel like I am in the Sonargaon hotel room absolutely. I'm at the Five Star Hotel.” '
Bardim Sareng Sanawar Hossain of Barisal Launch Ghat also expressed similar views. "It takes at least Taka 500 to get by the bus," he told barta24.com. You can travel on launch deck by Taka 150 to Taka 200. You have to go to the seat when you are on the bus or on the train, and you can go to bed overnight at lunch. In the morning you will see that many passengers can take full bath and work fresh full time. You can return the same way the next night. And time does not change at all. "I do not see the possibility of reducing passengers in the launch," he said. Every day 17 launches of 8 companies operate on Dhaka- Barisahl route where there are 1200 cabins. Nevertheless there are high demands in the weekends. Many have to change their travel dates without getting a ticket. Three more launches are under construction. These are Kuakata 5, Parabat 18 and Adventure11.
According to a source, each launch is capable of transporting 300 to one thousands passengers. However, the number is too small to be shown for strategic reasons. Annual renewal fee is to be paid in proportion to the announced number of passengers. There is a renewal fee of Taka 700 per passenger. The owners and authorities are making underhand deals to avid pay taxes. As a launch is carrying the number of total passengers of 90 buses.
A Parabat-10 launch staff said that the launch incurs fuel cost around Taka 70,000 to go from Barisal to Dhaka. And from their cabin earning comes in like 1.50 lakh. Up to 800 passengers can travel on deck earning fare of Taka 1.50 lakh. It also earns good income from carrying goods.
A staff of Challenger-1 Launch said that their launch had earned Taka 60 lakh from the security deposit of hotel's canteen.
Significant changes in the tastes of passengers on this route are also noticeable. Big and well decorated launch cabin is ending first. Owners are increasing the facilities competitively. One is launching another big launch than the previous size. Companies are moving their small launches to another route. Now they are all about three storied high and more than 300 feet in length. So now, if it is a little old then it is newly decorated after sending to dock. In addition to the common cabin, the semi-VIP, VIP and duplex cabins are fitted.
Single cabin is Taka I thousand, double-Taka 1800 and VIP cabin rent up to Taka 10,000 which is almost four times the fare of Dhaka Barisal aero plane journey.