BIWTC starts Eid-special trips for homebound people

The state-owned Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) started its 13-day special steamer services from Dhaka yesterday, ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha festival. This special service will continue on the Dhaka-Barishal-Dhaka route till August 28.

The Eid special service will be run with six vessels up to Khulna with regular services, said Sheikh Md Nasim, deputy general manager (commercial/passenger) of the BIWTC.  The vessels scheduled for this service would be the peddle steamers (PS) Ostrich, Mahsud, Turn, Lepcha and the motorised vessels (MV) Modhumoti and Banglaee.  

The leave of all BIWTC employees in the operational sector has been cancelled to ensure the hassle-free journey of homebound passengers.

Sources said the BIWTC vessels would be placed to carry passengers from Dhaka to their respective destinations connecting Chandpur, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Hularhut of Pirojpur and Morelganj of Bagerhut and Khulna river ports under the special schedule.

According to the announced schedule, Lepcha and MV Bangalee left the Dhaka river port, respectively, at 6pm and 6:30pm yestreday for Morelganj and Baro Machhua.

PS Ostrich will ply on today (August 17) and August 20 from Dhaka, on August 19 from Morelganj, and on August 25 from Barishal ends.

MV Modhumoti will ply on August 18, 21, 24 from Dhaka, on August 26 from Morelganj, and on August 20 and 23 from Barishal ends.  

MV Bangalee will ply on August 20, 23, 26 from Dhaka and on August  18, 22, 25,2 8 from the Barisal steamer ghat.

PS Lepcha will ply on August 17 from Baro Machhua, on August 20 from Dhaka and on August 25 from Hularhut ends.

PS Turn will ply on August 19 from Dhaka and on August 24 from Barishal ends.

Another BIWTC vessel, PS Mahsud, will ply on August 19, 22 and 25 from Dhaka and on August 21 and 24 from Barishal ends.

Syed Abul Kalam Azad, assistant general manager in charge of the BIWTC Barishal station, said the BIWTC stations at Barishal and Narayanganj have been asked to provide special tug boats and piloting services. The stations have been told to remain prepared to face any emergency calls.

The passenger fare of BIWTC carriers would remain the same oas on normal trips.

Passengers of BIWTC vessels on the 169-km-long Dhaka-Barisal or the Barisal-Dhaka route for a single trip have to pay Tk.1,050 for one first-class cabin seat, Tk. 630 for one second-class cabin (equivalent to the first-class of private launches) seat and Tk. 170 for each deck seat, said Azad.

During the 13-day period, sea-trucks and coastal ships of BIWTC will connect 11 stations of coastal routes under Barisal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Noakhali, and Chittagong districts.

Additional ferry trips would also be activated on the Paturia-Daulatdia, Mawa-Keorakandi, Chandpur - Shariatpur, Bhola-Lakshmipur and Laharhat-Veduria river routes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, according to BIWTC sources.

BIWTC starts Eid-special trips for homebound people

The state-owned Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) started its 13-day special steamer services from Dhaka yesterday, ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha festival. This special service will continue on the Dhaka-Barishal-Dhaka route till August 28. The Eid special service will be run with six vessels up to Khulna with regular services, said Sheikh Md Nasim, deputy general manager (commercial/passenger) of the BIWTC. The vessels scheduled for this service would be the peddle steamers (PS) Ostrich, Mahsud, Turn, Lepcha and the motorised vessels (MV) Modhumoti and Banglaee. The leave of all BIWTC employees in the operational sector has been cancelled to ensure the hassle-free journey of homebound passengers. Sources said the BIWTC vessels would be placed to carry passengers from Dhaka to their respective destinations connecting Chandpur, Barishal, Jhalakathi, Hularhut of Pirojpur and Morelganj of Bagerhut and Khulna river ports under the special schedule. According to the announced schedule, Lepcha and MV Bangalee left the Dhaka river port, respectively, at 6pm and 6:30pm yestreday for Morelganj and Baro Machhua. PS Ostrich will ply on today (August 17) and August 20 from Dhaka, on August 19 from Morelganj, and on August 25 from Barishal ends. MV Modhumoti will ply on August 18, 21, 24 from Dhaka, on August 26 from Morelganj, and on August 20 and 23 from Barishal ends. MV Bangalee will ply on August 20, 23, 26 from Dhaka and on August 18, 22, 25,2 8 from the Barisal steamer ghat. PS Lepcha will ply on August 17 from Baro Machhua, on August 20 from Dhaka and on August 25 from Hularhut ends. PS Turn will ply on August 19 from Dhaka and on August 24 from Barishal ends. Another BIWTC vessel, PS Mahsud, will ply on August 19, 22 and 25 from Dhaka and on August 21 and 24 from Barishal ends. Syed Abul Kalam Azad, assistant general manager in charge of the BIWTC Barishal station, said the BIWTC stations at Barishal and Narayanganj have been asked to provide special tug boats and piloting services. The stations have been told to remain prepared to face any emergency calls. The passenger fare of BIWTC carriers would remain the same oas on normal trips. Passengers of BIWTC vessels on the 169-km-long Dhaka-Barisal or the Barisal-Dhaka route for a single trip have to pay Tk.1,050 for one first-class cabin seat, Tk. 630 for one second-class cabin (equivalent to the first-class of private launches) seat and Tk. 170 for each deck seat, said Azad. During the 13-day period, sea-trucks and coastal ships of BIWTC will connect 11 stations of coastal routes under Barisal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Noakhali, and Chittagong districts. Additional ferry trips would also be activated on the Paturia-Daulatdia, Mawa-Keorakandi, Chandpur - Shariatpur, Bhola-Lakshmipur and Laharhat-Veduria river routes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, according to BIWTC sources.