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Kalapara Kheya Ghat

People count extra toll

SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali
Bidders of Baliatali kheya ghat (boat landing station) in Kalapara upazila under the district force the passengers to pay four to five times extra toll for crossing the Andharmanik river on engine-run and ordinary country boats.
Around 1.30 lakh people of five unions under the upazila use the kheya, situated on Kalapara-Kuakata alternative road, to go to the upazila headquarters as well as Patuakhali district town.
Around 3,000 people cross the river through the point daily.
Kalapara Upazila Parishad leases the kheya ghat through an open bid every year.
The stipulated rates for crossing the river are Tk 4 for each person, Tk 10 for each motorbike, Tk 4 for each bicycle, goat or sheep, Tk 10 for cow or buffalo, Tk 6 for rickshaw or rickshaw-van and Tk 3 for
up to 40-kg goods.
But lessee's men collect Tk 10 to Tk 15 from each passenger, Tk 30 to Tk 40 for a motorbike, Tk 20 to Tk 30 for a goat or sheep, Tk 30 to Tk 40 for a cow or buffalo, Tk 10 to Tk 15 for a bicycle, Tk 20 to Tk 30 for a rickshaw or van, said the stakeholders.
"We have to pay extra toll to cross the river by boat. The leaseholder's men misbehave if we decline to meet their demand," said Babul Molla of Lalua area.
Abul Kalam of Bablatala Bazar, who often takes goods from Kalapara, said, "The lessee's men at the kheya ghat take extra toll from us forcibly, especially at night."
A good number of tourists use the kheya ghat to go to Kuakata from Kalapara town.
"I crossed the river through the point with a motorbike and the lessee's men tookTk 30 from me. Later I learnt that the official rate
is Tk 10 for a motorbike," said Ataur Rahman from Barishal town.
Aman named Mukul took lease of the kheya ghat for Tk 73 lakh for the current Bangla year 1425 but his brother Musa operates the matter.
Asked about taking extra toll from passengers, Musa said, "1 don't take extra money from passengers but at the night time I take Tk 10 from each person to maintain workers."
"I give free ride to upazila level officials, so I have to recover the loss. I take Tk 25 to Tk 30 from each motorbike as there are two or three people with the vehicle," he added.
Md Tanveer Rahman, upazila nirbahi officer of Kalapara, said, "I will see the matter. If the lessee takes extra charge from passengers, lawful step will betaken."