Home-bound passengers wanting to travel to the southern part of the country on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha have to collect launch tickets from launch counters beginning on September 15.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the BIWTA office in the city’s Motijheel with shipping minister Shajahan Khan in the chair on Tuesday.
“The passengers should have to collect their tickets from counters before boarding on launches. Besides, they could collect tickets on launches for the first time but after Eid they must collect tickets only from launch counters,” the shipping minister told reporters after the meeting.The meeting also decided none can overloaded their launches with passengers and goods, the minister said, adding that the launch owners must left the terminal before crossing the overloading level.
“None can loaded passengers or goods in the mid river since the launch is left from Sadarghat, otherwise they have to face legal action,” Shajahan Khan warned.
Launch owners cannot charge extra money against fixed charge or fare, the minister said, adding that the owners must ensure presence of master, driver and other employees before leaving the launch from terminal.
The meeting also decided all types of trucks and covered van except essentials carrying trucks would not be ferried before three days and after three days of Eid, Khan said.
Besides, plying of all sand carrying bulkheads have been banned before four and four days of Eid, he added.
A total of 46 ferries run by BIWTC will be deployed at Aricha, Shimulia, Chanpur, Bhola, Laharhat and Matlab, he said.
“If there is rush of passengers—they would be ferried by ferries at Mawa and Paturia ferry terminals. Besides, plying of speed boats would not be allowed after sun set,” the minister said.
Adequate vigilance team will monitor the situation including conducting mobile courts to prevent extra fare and control the overloading, he added.
Among others, shipping secretary Shafique Alam Mehdi, BIWTA chairman commodore M Mozammel Huq, BIWTC chairman Mizanur Rahman, Shipping department DG commodore M Zakirul Islam Bhuiyan, marine police DG, owners or launches, workers leaders and concerned district police super attended the meeting.
According to the BIWTA, approximately 12 lakh home-bound people will use the waterways during the Eid holidays.
Most launches are all set to leave for their destinations, particularly the southern part of the country. However, most of the southern rivers have shrunk as the monsoon is over, and they are not marked by buoys or other markers.
Some unscrupulous launch-owners are preparing unfit vessels to ply on rivers to make a fast buck during the holidays. Most of these vessels have been given a fresh coat of paint to deceive the authorities. – Staff Reporter
