Dhaka, Aug 25 -Eminent citizens on Friday urged the government, including authorities concerned, to ensure safe journey of home bound people ahead of Eid-Ul-Adha.They made the demand at a discussion meeting organized by the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways, a non-government voluntary organization, at Purana Paltan’s Mukti Bhavan in the capital.
Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the national committee presented the key note paper while committee’s chief adviser and veteran politician Manzurul Ahsan Khan was in the chair.
Dr Mir Tareque Ali, a professor of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, said that the administrations concerned could not stop plying sand and cement laden vessels and passengers carrier mechanized boats at night in different waterways, including Buriganga river, in spite of shipping ministry’s embargo. It is very risky for river safety, he added.
Manzurul Ahsan Khan alleged that the government’s initiatives for home bound people’s safe journey during ongoing Eid-Ul-Ajha holidays were not sufficient.
He expressed his apprehension that public sufferings on both waterways and roads might be increased due to heavy rainfall, flood, badly damaged roads in absence of proper maintenances.
The discussion meeting was attended by, among others, former law maker Advocate Tasnim Rana, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan joint secretary Mihir Biswas and former director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Emdadul Haque Badsha.
The NCPSRR also placed an eight-point very urgent recommendation including drives by a mobile court on important waterways and highways across the country, ensuring tight security at bus and launch terminals and railway stations.
The committee also demanded regular broadcasting of weather bulletin, suspension of issuing fitness certificate fifteen days ahead of Eid. – UNB
