To ensure safety and security for those who will go back to their village homes during Eid using the waterways, the government has given some directives.
At a meeting held on Apr 30, at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) building, directives were given to ensure smooth operation of vessels, comfort and safety of passengers.
State minister for shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, said, “The government is doing everything to make travel on water fun, exciting and comfortable.”
It’s found that members of Ansar and community police will be deployed to maintain discipline and ensure security.
The road from Sadarghat to Bahadur Shah Park will be free of hawkers: “Dustbins will be placed in Sadarghat and the passengers will be discouraged from reckless disposal of waste items.”
The district administration will ensure that passengers are not harassed and extra money not taken for tickets.
The police will also carry out night patrols to prevent extortion, hijacking plus other nuisance.
Mobile courts will operate to monitor overloading of vessels plus the practice of taking extra fares.
Areas which are prone to whirlpools will be marked and large buoys will be placed on top of each vessel.
As per a government decision, there will be a moratorium on the placement of fishing nets from 1 June till 8 June.
State minister for shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, says, “Water communication is better than before and, in the last ten years, the government has carried out massive development in communication over water. The government has set a target of excavating 10 thousand km of water ways.”
Saying that in the years after liberation, there were only seven dredgers, the minister said: “In the last ten years 200 new dredgers have been included with another 150 to be added in the next one year.”