Coordinated preparations taken for safe Eid travel on waterways

Ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha, the government has undertaken extensive preparations to ensure safe, comfortable and orderly travel for homebound passengers on the country’s waterways.

A series of strict and coordinated measures has been adopted this year to prevent disorder on water routes during the Eid journey.

In this regard, a high-level meeting was recently held at the Ministry of Shipping, chaired by Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, where several special directives were issued concerning waterway security, law and order, passenger services, fare control, ferry terminal management and vessel operations, reports state news agency BSS.

Rabiul Alam asked all concerned to ensure effective management so passengers can travel in a comfortable, secure and hassle-free environment during Eid.

Officials of the ministry said that instead of operating separate control rooms by different agencies at Sadarghat, a single Central Control Room would be jointly run by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Department of Shipping, Fire Service, River Police, Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies.

In addition, CCTV monitoring at all key points in Sadarghat will be strengthened, while round-the-clock surveillance will be maintained from watchtowers.

At least four Ansar members will be deployed on every launch from May 19 to June 2. Their responsibilities will include preventing illegal boarding and disembarkation of passengers through trawlers or boats along river routes and ensuring passenger safety.

Carrying excess passengers, allowing passengers on rooftops and transporting excessive cargo on launches have been completely prohibited. Violations may result in punitive measures, including cancellation of route permits.

The meeting decided that under no circumstances would passengers be allowed to board or disembark launches in the middle of rivers through trawlers or boats. River Police and the Coast Guard will enforce the directive through day-and-night patrols.

No passenger boarding or disembarkation will be allowed anywhere in the Sadarghat area except designated trawler terminals. To prevent river accidents, it has been decided to suspend the movement of sand-carrying bulkheads nationwide for a total of 10 days before and after Eid. From May 23 to June 2, no bulkheads will be allowed to operate either day or night.

At the same time, the movement of dinghy boats from Sadarghat will remain suspended, while launches will operate from terminals adjacent to Bosila Bridge in Mohammadpur and Shimulia terminal near Kanchan Bridge in Purbachal to ease passenger pressure at Sadarghat.

A BRTC shuttle bus service for passengers has been planned at Shimulia terminal. New pontoons will be installed at Bosila terminal, while toilets, rest areas, trolleys and wheelchairs will be arranged at both terminals.

There are also plans to operate some launches on Barishal, Bhola, Hatiya, Betua and Chandpur routes from Bosila and Shimulia terminals.

Speaking to BSS, State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan said the government had taken several decisions to ensure uninterrupted waterway travel during Eid. Besides Sadarghat, passenger launches will also operate from Shimulia and Bosila.

From May 21 to June 2, the DMP traffic division and Dhaka South City Corporation have been instructed to keep roads from Zero Point to Sadarghat free from traffic congestion.

The meeting also discussed keeping both sides of the roads free from hawkers, removing disorderly vehicles and introducing one-way traffic systems if necessary.

Muhammad Mobarak Hossain, Joint Director of the Naval Safety and Traffic Management Department at BIWTA’s Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat), told BSS that preparations this year were far more organised and extensive than in previous years.

He said integrated initiatives had been undertaken to ensure uninterrupted river travel, including free porter and trolley services for passengers at Sadarghat.

Charging fares above government-approved rates has been completely prohibited. According to the meeting’s decisions, approved fare charts must be displayed at all terminals and launches. Mobile courts will also conduct drives against overcharging.

Launch owners’ associations have also been urged to transport passengers at fares 10 percent lower than the revised rates during Eid.

Instructions have been issued to increase night patrols on key waterways, including Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Chandpur and Barishal-Bhola routes, to prevent robbery and extortion.

Vigilance teams comprising local officials, police, River Police and Coast Guard members will be formed in every terminal area. The Shipping Ministry will also form special vigilance teams to monitor the overall situation.

It has been decided to display fares and emergency hotline numbers on digital screens in every launch. Emergency hotline numbers — National Emergency Service 999, Fire Service 102, BIWTA hotline 16113 and Coast Guard hotline 16111 — will be widely publicised for passengers.

Special facilities for women, children, elderly passengers and people with special needs will also be ensured, including breastfeeding corners, safe drinking water, mobile charging facilities and improved toilet services.

The Ministry of Shipping has also instructed authorities to ensure safety in transporting sacrificial animals by waterways, control excessive vehicles at ferry terminals, make life jackets mandatory on speedboats and strictly follow weather warnings during adverse conditions.

When asked about these measures, State Minister Rajib Ahsan told BSS that trolley services had been arranged at Sadarghat to ease passenger suffering and that passengers would not need to pay for using the trolleys.

He added that steps had also been taken to stop harassment by hawkers and porters at Sadarghat.

The state minister further said instructions had been issued to prevent passengers from risking accidents while trying to board launches using speedboats or small boats.

Separate stairways have been arranged on both sides of the river port at Sadarghat so passengers arriving by small boats or speedboats can easily access the terminal. Regular patrols have also been intensified, he added.