Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan has asked the passengers not to board overloaded vessels during journey for Eid-ul-Azah celebration as BIWTA has placed into operation sufficient number of vessels on all the river routes as part of special services. The minister gave the assurance on Friday noon while visiting waterways of the southern region, including Barisal river port, No goods-laden vessels, including cargos, and even fishing boats, will be allowed to ply the river routes after the sunset during the Eid trips, said the minister. He added highest number of river vessels will ply the Dhaka–Barisal river route during Eid special journey this year. Passengers of the waterways often tell of their rights of safe and secure journey ignoring and forgetting their own responsibilities such as not to board the overloaded vessels, the minister observed. The minister called upon the passengers not to depend only on the water transport owners, workers, port authority and also to refrain from journey on the rooftops of the water vessels. Shahjahan Khan asked officials and staffs of BIWTA, BIWTC, local administration and law enforcing agencies to work simultaneously in coordination with each other to ensure safe and secure journey for the passengers. High officials of BIWTA, BIWTC and office of the Director General of Shipping also accompanied the minister during the visit.