The Dhaka Times Desk Eid-ul-Fitr is coming up and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will conduct helicopter surveillance for the safety and security of domestic waterway passengers. Besides, in the meeting of BIWTA's 'Permanent Eid Management Plan', it was informed that 10% less fare will be charged in the third class on the occasion of Eid in passenger launches.
This decision was taken in a joint meeting organized by BIWTA at the meeting room of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority in Motijheel last Wednesday to ensure smooth water transport management for domestic passengers on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Chairman of BIWTA presided over the meeting. Bangladesh Shipping Authority officials, launch owners and workers were present in the meeting. It was said in the meeting that no passengers can be carried on the roof of the launch this year. If passengers are found on the roof, action will be taken against that launch. Launch owners have been asked to stop selling launch tickets in the black market during Eid. It was also said in the meeting that helicopters and rescue ships Hamza, Rustam, Nirbhaya and Pratiya will be ready at all times to strengthen the rescue operations in the accident. In the meeting, the dredging department of BIWTA was instructed to carry out dredging in the places where dredging has not been done as per the demand of the launch owners. Apart from this, instructions have been given to the speedboat owners at Mawa ferry wharf to make it mandatory for passengers to wear life jackets. Many people die every year in boat launch and steamer accidents at this time of monsoon. After the death of these ordinary people, political cries started. BIWTA then said the launch owners were responsible for the accident. And the launch owners said people died in this accident due to BIWTA's inefficiency. There is a lot of pressure on the waterways during Eid. But since there are not that many launches, launch owners and BIWTA are struggling to handle this pressure of passengers. Besides ticket black market, due to lack of proper dredging on sea route, problems in launch and steamer movement and lack of life jackets in launch and steamer increased the death toll in this accident.
Speedboats at every ferry must have buoys. No boat can be boarded in the middle river on a moving launch. Passengers will board the launch by pontoon. People's cooperation has been sought in this regard. It has been decided to take strict action by the law and order forces on the river to transport passengers during Eid.
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