The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, in cooperation with the launch owners’ association, has arranged an eleven-day special launch service from September 6 on 22 major river and coastal routes to reduce pressure of home-bound passengers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The special launch service will continue for five days after the Eid festival, said the Barisal Launch Owner’s Association vice-president, Saidur Rahman Rintu.
The decision was announced after a meeting on Monday in the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority conference room in Dhaka, he informed.
Abdul Malek Mia, chairman of the BIWTA, presided over the meeting attended by Syed Manwar Hossain, secretary Mahbubul Alam, director (port) Shafikul Huq and director (traffic) of BIWTA Mahbubuddin Ahmed Bir Bikram among others.
The meeting decided to launch special launch service on 22 major river routes including 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.
The meeting also decided that a committee would be formed at every major river port with representatives of local administration, BIWTA, shipping ministry, law enforcing agencies, launch owners’ association to ensure law and order and safety of the passengers, he said.
Prangopal Majumdar, assistant general manager of the BIWTC Barisal station, said special service of the BIWTC vessels on the Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna and sea-truck service on the coastal routes would be announced very soon.
Restriction will also be imposed on trucks’ crossing rivers on BIWTC ferry service during five days before and five days after Eid as per a direction of the parliamentary committee on transport and communication, he said.
Abdur Rahim, Barisal depot manager of the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, informed that the BRTC will also introduce a special service named Eid Seba Service during three days before and three days after the Eid festival.
