BIWTA officials warn launch operators

Overloading during Eid

Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday held a meeting with representatives of the Launch Owners’ Association, law enforcement agencies and the local administration to discuss safety issues relating to Eid special vessels and passengers.
The meeting was held at the conference room of Barisal River Port Building, with Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director of BIWTA, and Khaza SadikurRahman, assistant director (river safety and traffic) of BIWTA in the chair. Port officer M. Mustafizur Rahman, Launch Owners’ Association leaders AjijulHuq Akkas and Sheikh Md. Rahim, and representatives of the police force, RAB and coast guard addressed the meeting.
“Launch owners have been told that the BIWTA will not allow excess passengers in vessels. If any passenger is found on the roof of a launch, the launch management will be punished and its captain's certificate will be cancelled. The offending vessel's route permit will also be suspended,” said Abul Bashar Majumdar.
“The owners have also been instructed to keep updated documents like route permit, fitness and survey certificates. The vessels should have sufficient safety equipment like buoys and fire extinguishers. They must only be operated by licensed, trained and uniformed sailors. Passengers and goods must stay within permissible capacity. Overloading ought to be avoided to ensure safety and security of the passengers,” he added.
The district administration also convened a coordination meeting on the issue of safety of passengers during Eid at the DC conference room yesterday, with Gazi Md. Sayfuzzaman, deputy commissioner (DC) of Barisal, in the chair. Journalist Murad Ahmed, SM Iqbal, Mohiuddin Manik Bir Prothik, Aftab Hosenand others spoke at the meeting.
During the meeting, the authorities concerned decided to monitor different departure venues, terminals and ghats to prevent passenger harassment.
The Barisal DC urged the BIWTA to set up marker lights and points in the river routes to clear the channel during Eid.The DC also instructed bus and lorry drivers not to use mobile phones while driving through the Barisal jurisdiction.

 

BIWTA officials warn launch operators

Overloading during Eid

Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday held a meeting with representatives of the Launch Owners Association, law enforcement agencies and the local administration to discuss safety issues relating to Eid special vessels and passengers. The meeting was held at the conference room of Barisal River Port Building, with Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director of BIWTA, and Khaza SadikurRahman, assistant director (river safety and traffic) of BIWTA in the chair. Port officer M. Mustafizur Rahman, Launch Owners Association leaders AjijulHuq Akkas and Sheikh Md. Rahim, and representatives of the police force, RAB and coast guard addressed the meeting. Launch owners have been told that the BIWTA will not allow excess passengers in vessels. If any passenger is found on the roof of a launch, the launch management will be punished and its captains certificate will be cancelled. The offending vessels route permit will also be suspended, said Abul Bashar Majumdar. The owners have also been instructed to keep updated documents like route permit, fitness and survey certificates. The vessels should have sufficient safety equipment like buoys and fire extinguishers. They must only be operated by licensed, trained and uniformed sailors. Passengers and goods must stay within permissible capacity. Overloading ought to be avoided to ensure safety and security of the passengers, he added. The district administration also convened a coordination meeting on the issue of safety of passengers during Eid at the DC conference room yesterday, with Gazi Md. Sayfuzzaman, deputy commissioner (DC) of Barisal, in the chair. Journalist Murad Ahmed, SM Iqbal, Mohiuddin Manik Bir Prothik, Aftab Hosenand others spoke at the meeting. During the meeting, the authorities concerned decided to monitor different departure venues, terminals and ghats to prevent passenger harassment. The Barisal DC urged the BIWTA to set up marker lights and points in the river routes to clear the channel during Eid.The DC also instructed bus and lorry drivers not to use mobile phones while driving through the Barisal jurisdiction.