Rampant rent collection and syndicate violence at Kaliganj Ghat

At the Kaliganj ferry terminal in Nageshwari Upazila, Kurigram district, the public is suffering immensely due to exorbitant ferry fares and the unchecked dominance of a syndicate. It is alleged that the authorities have arbitrarily hiked fares, disregarding all rules and regulations, under the pretext of rising fuel prices.

According to local sources, passengers traveling to and from Kurigram had long been paying a fare of Tk. 20 to cross the river at the Kaliganj terminal. Recently, however, the crossing fee was suddenly increased without any prior notice or official directive. Under the new rates, passengers, whether on foot or otherwise, are now charged Tk. 25, while those crossing with a motorcycle must pay Tk. 30.

Passengers who use this crossing point note that the river at the Kaliganj terminal, which connects Kurigram and Nageshwari, spans only 120 to 130 meters. Crossing this short distance by boat takes a mere 30 to 40 seconds. Affected individuals have expressed outrage, labeling the Tk. 25 – 30 fares for such a short distance as entirely unreasonable and unprecedented.

Furthermore, there are reports of extortion and harassment at the terminal. Recently, when a passenger attempted to transport a small carton on his motorcycle, the terminal staff demanded an additional, separate fee. Such high-handed behavior frequently leads to heated arguments between passengers and the staff employed by the terminal’s leaseholder. The public complains that powerful syndicates are now active across almost every sector, including transport, marketplaces, and government offices. 

Taking advantage of the government’s fuel price hikes; these unscrupulous groups are effectively picking the pockets of ordinary citizens. Protected by influential local figures, these syndicates operate with such impunity that the average commuter dares not even voice a protest. 

Concerned local residents and ordinary passengers have urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to dismantle the syndicates and abolish all forms of unauthorized, excessive tolls, including those at the Kaliganj Ghat in Nageshwari Upazila, in order to ensure that passenger crossings take place at the prescribed, official rates and to provide relief to the general public.

-    MTA/NS