Lalmonirhat, June 20, 2025 : Thousands of ordinary people of Dwipchar Minar Bazar and about 1,200 students studying in various educational institutions of Kaliganj and Lalmonirhat from Char have been facing extreme hardship due to the increase in the boat fare during this season at the ferry ghat that goes from Munshir Bazar in Tushbhandar Union of Kaliganj Upazila of the district to Dwipchar Minar Bazar in Tistandi.
Previously, students used to collect money from the school every year through a halakhata (bookkeeping system), but this year, these students are in extreme trouble due to being charged a higher fare during the crossing.
According to the affected students and residents of the char, leaders of various parties are exerting influence and charging additional fares instead of the fare fixed by the district council. A person from the char has to cross two ghats to reach the city for necessary work. At Baraibari Khea ghat, 50 taka is charged for boat fare and 30 taka at Minar Bazar ghat, and when the water level in Teesta rises, 50 taka is charged, making a total of 80-100 taka. 60 taka is being charged for each motorcycle and 400 to 1000 taka for each cow or buffalo vehicle crossing. In addition, the ghat lessor is charging additional fares for transporting agricultural products produced in the char. 40-50 taka is charged for each sack of paddy and maize transported by boat.
Students and general public from Kheya Ghat Char, who are coming from Minar Bazar to Munshir Bazar in Kaliganj Upazila, are presenting memorandums, protesting processions and forming human chains at various government offices to protest the rent hike and harassment that has held the people of Char hostage.
The residents and students of the char said that when someone new comes to the char, they are charged extra rent, and when someone from the char comes to the city at night for illness or urgent work, the lessor of the ghat is charging them as they wish. They demand that the rent should be collected by displaying the boat rental chart prescribed by the district council.
In this regard, Char farmer Md. Abdur Rashid said that he is facing losses due to the additional transportation costs to transport various types of crops, including rice and maize, from the Char to the market to sell.
Munshir Rashidul Islam, a resident of Char Minar Bazar on Teesta Island, said that his three children study in various educational institutions in Kaliganj. He is struggling to pay the daily fare of ten taka for his three children and the additional fare after crossing the river. If the fare is not reduced, he and many other people from Char will no longer be able to send their children to the city for education.
Lablu Mia, a student of Kaliganj Government College, said, "This leasing gang has been holding the people of Char hostage and collecting rent for a long time. They have taken the courage to protest against it this time and have already complained to various government departments including the police and army."
When contacted, the ghat leaseholder Abu Taleb said that the ghat lease was taken for a higher price this year. He said that the rent is being collected in the same manner as it was collected in the past.
Gangarchara Upazila Executive Officer Mahmudul Hasan Mridha said that efforts are continuing to take swift action and necessary measures will be taken to solve the problems of students and the extremely poor people of Char.
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