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 CNG vehicles has also been raised, by Tk 200.
Mohammad Arif, who is responsible for the Sajek counter in Khagrachhari, confirmed that the new rates were implemented from Friday morning. All vehicles travelling from Khagrachhari towards Sajek are now carrying passengers under the revised fare structure.
Transport operators said this is the second fare increase for tourist vehicles travelling to Sajek this year. In May, 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 involved in operating the vehicles.
The new rates were determined following discussions between the Khagrachhari Road Transport Jeep Owners’ Association and the Parbatya Vehicle Owners’ Welfare Association. According to the associations, the adjustment was made to bring transport fares in line with rising operating costs.
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 package including one night’s stay and the return journey has been set at Tk 10,500.
For visitors staying one night and travelling to designated tourist attractions, the vehicle fare is Tk 12,500. A two-night stay with the journey costs Tk 13,500, while the package covering two nights and visits to designated tourist spots has been fixed at Tk 15,000.
The revised fare structure also covers several other destinations around Khagrachhari. A same-day trip covering Debota Pukur, Alutila Cave, Richhang Waterfall, Tareng and the hanging bridge will cost Tk 7,500 per vehicle. A trip covering Panছড়ি, Aranya Kutir and Mayabini Lake, along with other tourist attractions, has been priced at Tk 6,500.
For travel between Khagrachhari and Rangamati, the return fare has been fixed at Tk 8,500. Passengers opting to stay overnight will have to pay an additional Tk 2,000.
The return fare from Khagrachhari to Bandarban has been set at Tk 13,500. An overnight stay will add another Tk 3,000 to the cost.
The fares apply to an entire vehicle rather than individual passengers. Each vehicle can carry a maximum of 12 tourists. In addition to the vehicle fare, each tourist will have to pay Tk 20 in Sajek, while an additional Tk 100 will be charged per vehicle as part of the associated expenses.
The new schedule also specifies an additional charge for vehicles that remain overnight. If a vehicle does not return to Khagrachhari in the morning and instead returns in the afternoon, an extra Tk 500 will be added to the applicable fare.
Mohammad Masum Parvez, finance secretary of the Khagrachhari Road Transport Jeep Owners’ Association, said the latest increase was made in response to higher fuel prices. He said representatives of the relevant associations held discussions before reaching the decision.
According to Parvez, the fares for pick-ups, jeeps and safari vehicles have each been increased by Tk 500, while the fare for Mahindra CNGs has gone up by Tk 200.
The latest adjustment means tourists planning a trip to Sajek will need to account for the revised vehicle rates when calculating their overall travel expenses. For groups travelling together, the cost can be divided among passengers, as the published fares apply to an entire vehicle with a maximum capacity of 12 people.
