BSS, Dhaka :Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will use helicopters to enhance monitoring to ensure safety of waterway passengers during the Eid-ul-Fitr.Besides, the BIWTA has decided to reduce third class launch fair by 10 percent during the Eid.The decisions were taken at a meeting of ‘Permanent Eid Management Plan’ at BIWTA meeting room at Motijheel in the city Wednesday.Presided over by BIWTC Chairman Dr M Shamsuddoha Khandaker, the meeting was attended by Bangladesh Inland Waterways Association Chairman Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, launch owners association leaders, Narayanganj deputy commissioner, army and police officers, Sadarghat labor leaders, launch workers leaders and senior officials concerned.The meeting was told that no passenger would be allowed to be carried on the rooftop of any launch.The launch owners would ensure that no ticket would be sold in the black market. The meeting decided that besides helicopters, four rescue ships would be kept ready to tackle the situation in case of any accident.As per a demand of launch owners, the meeting directed the BIWTA dredging department to dredge waterways where necessary.The meeting made mandatory wearing of lifejackets by passengers of speedboats operating to and from the Mawa ferry ghat.The meeting was informed that 16 passenger launches would make double trips daily from five days before the Eid and continue till five days after the Eid.The law enforcement agencies would take strict measures to ensure security of waterway passengers during the Eid-ul-Fitr, the meeting decided.It prohibited spreading fishing nets and plying of sand-laden boats on the waterways used by passenger launches.
