BIWTA to begin Eid special services from June 22

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken special measures to ensure a smooth journey for homebound passengers during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

It has decided to begin Eid special services from June 22, while private launch owners are to start such services from June 23.
No cargo vessels, including sand carrier bulkheads, will be allowed to ply between June 21 and June 30 to facilitate the safe movement of passenger launches. “Stern action will be taken against launch owners if extra fare is charged from passengers during Eid holidays,” shipping minister Shajahan Khan told The Independent.

The ferrying of trucks and covered vans, except those carrying essential items, will be kept suspended for three days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival in Bangladesh.
“Fishing nets won’t be allowed in channels used by passenger launches. Besides, an adequate number of buoys, lights and markings will be in place to prevent mishaps. The navigability of Mawa-Char Janajat and Paturia-Daulatdia ferry routes, including river channels, will be ensured for smooth movement of vessels,” said Khan.
Ansar, community police and traffic police personnel would be deployed to maintain the law and order situation. They would clear hawkers from the Bahadur Shah Park to Sadarghat to make sure that homebound people were able to move without hindrance, the minister said.
Officials of district administration, zila police and BIWTA would take steps to prevent harassment of passengers by jetty lessees (ghat izaradar), the minister added.
Moreover, they would also see to it that launch drivers, masters and other employees were present when passengers boarded the vessels.
The government was determined to ensure safe journey for all homegoing passengers, the shipping minister said. “A parking bay and bypass at Daulatdia ghat will be set up as an emergency measure. Besides, steps will be taken to ensure that passengers wear life jackets while being ferried by speedboats,” he added.
“We won’t tolerate any irregularities during the movement of passenger launches. Stern action will be taken against launch owners if they try to take in passengers in the middle of the river from boats. No launch owner should charge additional fare above the approved rate,” Khan warned.
He said cargo vessels and sand-carrier bulkheads should not be allowed at night.“Overloading is totally prohibited. Such practices should be stopped at any cost for the sake of passengers. National identity cards, mobile numbers and photos of cabin passengers should be preserved,” he added.
He directed the authorities concerned to strengthen security and police patrolling to stop robbery on waterways, extortion and harassment of passengers. “Tankers, launches and coaster barges will not be allowed to haphazardly anchor in the river,” he said.  
He also urged the passengers to throw waste materials in dustbins and not in the rivers.
“We’ll begin special services from June 22, which will continue throughout Eid holidays and five days after Eid. Our six ships are ready to render such services,” NSM Shahadat Ali, general manager (commerce) of the BIWTC, told The Independent yesterday.
Golam Kibria Tipu, chief adviser to the Bangladesh Launch Owners’ Association, said they would begin special services from June 23, which will continue for 10 days after the Eid.

BIWTA to begin Eid special services from June 22

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken special measures to ensure a smooth journey for homebound passengers during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. It has decided to begin Eid special services from June 22, while private launch owners are to start such services from June 23. No cargo vessels, including sand carrier bulkheads, will be allowed to ply between June 21 and June 30 to facilitate the safe movement of passenger launches. Stern action will be taken against launch owners if extra fare is charged from passengersduring Eid holidays, shipping minister Shajahan Khan told The Independent. The ferrying of trucks and covered vans, except those carrying essential items, will be kept suspended for three days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest festival in Bangladesh. Fishing nets wont be allowed in channels used by passenger launches. Besides, an adequate number of buoys, lights and markings will be in place to prevent mishaps. The navigability of Mawa-Char Janajat and Paturia-Daulatdia ferry routes, including river channels, will be ensured for smooth movement of vessels, said Khan. Ansar, community police and traffic police personnel would be deployed to maintain the law and order situation. They would clear hawkers from the Bahadur Shah Park to Sadarghat to make sure that homebound people were able to move without hindrance, the minister said. Officials of district administration, zila police and BIWTA would take steps to prevent harassment of passengers by jetty lessees (ghat izaradar), the minister added. Moreover, they would also see to it that launch drivers, masters and other employees were present when passengers boarded the vessels. The government was determined to ensure safe journey for all homegoing passengers, the shipping minister said. A parking bay and bypass at Daulatdia ghat will be set up as an emergency measure. Besides, steps will be taken to ensure that passengers wear life jackets while being ferried by speedboats, he added. We wont tolerate any irregularities during the movement of passenger launches. Stern action will be taken against launch owners if they try to take in passengers in the middle of the river from boats. No launch owner should charge additional fare above the approved rate, Khan warned. He said cargo vessels and sand-carrier bulkheads should not be allowed at night.Overloading is totally prohibited. Such practices should be stopped at any cost for the sake of passengers. National identity cards, mobile numbers and photos of cabin passengers should be preserved, he added. He directed the authorities concerned to strengthen security and police patrolling to stop robbery on waterways, extortion and harassment of passengers. Tankers, launches and coaster barges will not be allowed to haphazardly anchor in the river, he said. He also urged the passengers to throw waste materials in dustbins and not in the rivers. Well begin special services from June 22, which will continue throughout Eid holidays and five days after Eid. Our six ships are ready to render such services, NSM Shahadat Ali, general manager (commerce) of the BIWTC, told The Independent yesterday. Golam Kibria Tipu, chief adviser to the Bangladesh Launch Owners Association, said they would begin special services from June 23, which will continue for 10 days after the Eid.