The movement of bulkhead will remain suspended for 10 days during the Eid-ul-Azha to ensure hassle-free movement of vessels, said Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain on Wednesday.
Besides, stern action will be taken if there are any complaints of overcharging or carrying passengers beyond the permissible limit on waterways during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, he said while speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat.
“Every launch must display the government-fixed fare chart at designated points. If any operator fails to comply legal action will be taken. It is often alleged that passengers are exploited during Eid with fares nearly one and a half to two times higher than the official rate. This time strict legal action will be taken against those responsible,” he said.
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To ease congestion during the Eid rush, the adviser said three days before and three days after Eid-ul-Azha, ferry transport of general trucks and covered vans will remain suspended, except for vehicles carrying essential and perishable goods, said the adviser.
To prevent accidents on waterways, rescue vessels will remain standby, he said.
Besides, the law enforcement agencies will be deployed at all river ports, terminals and ghats to ensure the safety of passengers while district administrations will form task forces to operate mobile courts during the Eid journey, he added.
Four Ansar members will be deployed in long-distance launch, said the adviser. “If this guideline is not followed and any incident occurs the launch owners will be held accountable. Ansar members must fulfill their duties responsibly,”he added.
Meanwhile, staff working on launches and at ferry terminals must wear designated uniforms and carry ID cards, he said.
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To strengthen security in crime-prone areas such as the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj, Gazaria in Munshiganj and the Meghna River in Barishal, the Coast Guard, River Police and Bangladesh Navy will conduct special patrols.
From May 30 to June 14, the road between Dhaka’s Zero Point and Sadarghat must be kept free from parked buses to ensure smooth vehicular movement, the adviser said.
“No buses should be left parked haphazardly on the roads. Police will monitor the area strictly and remove violators using wreckers if necessary,” he said.
Besides, the adviser said after necessary dredging work ferry operations on the Chilmari-Roumari route will resume from tomorrow.