Tourist transport fares from Khagrachhari to Sajek have increased, with safari vehicles, jeeps and pick-ups now costing an additional Tk 500. The revised fares came into effect on Friday morning, 25 September. The fare for Mahindra CNGs has also been raised by Tk 200.
Mohammad Arif, who is responsible for the Sajek counter in Khagrachhari, confirmed the increase. He said all vehicles departing from Khagrachhari for Sajek had been operating under the new fare structure since Friday morning.
According to people familiar with the matter, this is the second fare increase for tourist vehicles travelling to Sajek this year. The previous increase came in May, when fares were raised by Tk 1,000 following an increase in fuel prices. The latest adjustment has again been attributed to higher fuel costs and increased expenses associated with operating tourist vehicles.
The new fares were fixed by the Khagrachhari Road Transport Jeep Owners’ Association and the Parbatya Vehicle Owners’ Welfare Association after discussions among representatives of the relevant transport organisations.
Under the revised schedule, a vehicle travelling from Khagrachhari to Sajek in the morning and returning in the afternoon will cost Tk 9,000. A return trip with one night’s stay has been set at Tk 10,500.
The fare rises to Tk 12,500 for a package that includes one night’s stay and visits to designated tourist attractions. For two nights, the return journey costs Tk 13,500, while a package covering two nights and visits to specified tourist spots has been fixed at Tk 15,000.
The revised schedule also covers trips to other attractions in and around Khagrachhari. A same-day tour covering Debota Pukur, Alutila Cave, Richhang Waterfall, Tareng and the hanging bridge will cost Tk 7,500 per vehicle. A separate package covering Panছড়ি, Aranya Kutir and Mayabini Lake, along with other tourist destinations, has been priced at Tk 6,500.
Fares have also been set for longer journeys from Khagrachhari. A return trip to Rangamati will cost Tk 8,500 per vehicle. Travellers staying there for one night will have to pay an additional Tk 2,000.
The return fare from Khagrachhari to Bandarban has been fixed at Tk 13,500. An overnight stay will add a further Tk 3,000 to the fare.
The published rates apply to an entire vehicle rather than individual passengers. Each vehicle can carry up to 12 tourists. In addition to the vehicle fare, every tourist will have to pay Tk 20 in Sajek, while a further Tk 100 will be charged per vehicle as an associated expense.
The fare schedule also contains a provision for vehicles that remain overnight. If a vehicle that has stayed overnight returns in the afternoon instead of coming back in the morning, an additional Tk 500 will be added to the applicable fare.
Mohammad Masum Parvez, finance secretary of the Khagrachhari Road Transport Jeep Owners’ Association, said the fare adjustment was made to reflect the higher cost of fuel. He said representatives of all the relevant associations had taken part in discussions before the decision was reached.
Parvez said the fares for pick-ups, jeeps and safari vehicles had each been increased by Tk 500, while the fare for Mahindra CNGs had risen by Tk 200.
The latest adjustment will increase the transport component of travel costs for tourists planning trips to Sajek and other destinations from Khagrachhari. For groups travelling together, the actual cost per person will depend on the number of passengers sharing a vehicle, while the total expense will also vary according to the number of nights and the attractions included in the chosen package.
