Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) starts 13-day
special steamer services from August 5 from Dhaka end and which will
continue till August 17.
Source also said four BIWTC vessels named paddle wheel steamers PS
Lepcha, PS Mahsud, PS Tern, and screw wheel motor vessel MV Sela has
been placed to carry passengers to their respective destinations
connecting Chandpur, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, Bagerhaat
districts under this special schedules.
Every day at least one regular and one special vessel would be placed
to connect different destinations of the routes for the homebound Eid
passengers, said Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general manager
BIWTC Barisal.
Under this schedule PS Mahsud will leave Dhaka Sadar Ghat at 6:00 pm
today Monday on special trip to Morelganj of Bagerhat and after half
an hour another vessel MV Sela will also leave the same station on
regular trips on the route, he added.
Barisal and Narayanganj BIWTC stations has been asked to provide
special tug boats and piloting services and be prepared to face any
emergency calls, the BIWTC sources said.
Gopal Majumdar said the passenger fare of BIWTC carriers would remain
same on special trips as normal trips.
Accordingly passengers of BIWTC vessels on Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route
in single trip have to pay Tk.1050 for one first class cabin seat,
Tk.640 for one second class cabin seat and Tk.170 for each deck seat
in comparison of Tk.1000-1100 for per first class cabin seat, Tk.600
per sofa and Tk. 230-250 per deck seat of the private launch services
on the same route.
Eight sea trucks of BIWTC will connect 11 stations of coastal routes
under Barisal, Bhola, Luxmipur, Noakhali, Chittagong districts.
Two coastal ships will operate under regular and Eid special services
to connect different destinations like Hatiya, Sandwip, Chittagong,
Bhola, and Barisal.
The additional ferry trips would also be activated on
Paturia-Daulatdia, Mawa-Charjanajat, Chandpur-Shariatpur,
Bhola-Lakshmipur and Laharhat-Bheduria river routes on occasion of Eid
ul Fitr, BIWTC sources added.
On the other hand Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)
in cooperation with launch owners association will also arrange
13-days launch services from August 5 on 17 on major river routes.
The routes included Chandpur, Letrabazar, Barisal, Torki, Patuakhali,
Kalaia, Rangabali, Bhola, Borhanuddin, Lalmohan, Barguna, Amtali,
Ichli, Madaripur, Hularhut connecting Dhaka River Port and Chandpur,
Barisal, Taltatala, Ramchandrapur, Machhuakhali, Sureshwar connecting
Narayanganj and Chandpur river ports.
A committee also formed at every major river port consisting of the
representatives of local administration, BIWTA, BIWTC, shipping
ministry, law enforcing agencies, launch owners association, informed
Md. Shahidullah, Barisal port officer.
The committee will work to ensure following the rules regarding the
smooth and safe riverine transport system, prevent snatching, mugging
and harassment of the water transport passengers at that rush time.
Special measures taken for preventing overloading, checking about
plying transports with trained and certified drivers, masters and
crews, loading and unloading only at river ports, not at mid-river,
closing cargo hold hatch 30 minutes before departing port and not
carrying any passenger there.
A night hold camp was opened in the port areas and passengers were
requested not to leave the station areas before sunrise, Barisal port
officer said. –Our Correspondent, Barisal
