A huge rush of passengers, returning to work after the Eid holidays, has descended on Barisal Port, forcing many to seek tickets from the black market. Barisal port sources said around 180,000 people have taken the river route to Dhaka in the past two days. As many as 18 vessels, including 16 triple-decker launches and two state-owned steamers, have been operating to ferry the passengers, the sources added.
To cater to the post-Eid rush, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has cancelled the fixed departure schedules, forcing the vessels to leave the port two to three hours earlier than their scheduled time.
This has created problems for several people who arrived at the port on time, but found the vessels had gone, much to their dismay. Officials maintained that overloaded vessels were ordered to sail earlier than schedule for the safety and security of passengers.
Vessel-owners said that each of the triple-decker vessels had a carrying capacity of 750 to 1,280 passengers. However, the vessels on special Eid services were carrying over 5,000 passengers per trip, putting their lives at grave risk.
Md. Mustafizur Rahman, BIWTA deputy director and Barisal river port officer, said according to their estimates, more than four lakh people had come home to Barisal for Eid this year.
Rahman added that a large number of these holidaymakers had already left Barisal by July 22 to avoid the rush. However, many vacationers had extended their periods of leave till the weekend, leading to the rush of Dhaka-bound passengers on Thursday and Friday, he added.
The official said several people coming from long distances were camping at the port itself after missing their launches, and the authorities were using mikes to persuade them to go back to their relatives’ homes.
Officials said large contingents of the police, Ansar, Coast Guard, Armed Battalions and RAB were deployed to tackle the chaotic situation at the port. Bangladesh Girl Guides volunteers were helping the port authorities to ensure safe boarding of women, children and elderly passengers on the vessels.
Abul Bashar Majumdar, BIWTA deputy director (river traffic and safety) at Barisal, said the authorities have tried to tackle the post-Eid rush by requesting three Dhaka-bound vessels from other ports to touch Barisal.
Most of the Eid special services will end today.