Syed Shemul Parvez :
With only three days left ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, homegoers have started to leave the capital by mostly the rundown and fauly launches to celebrate the occasion with their near and dear ones at village homes and towns, putting lives at risk.
It was alleged that most of these rundown and faulty water vessels got quick facelift to sail on different routes across the country during the two great festivals – Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
Accident fear is also increasing in launches for over loading of passengers every year in these two occations.
However, the authorities concerned said that they have taken all possible steps to ensure better and enjoyable journey in waterways for the people of the southern region.
During the Eid journey, every launch defies the restriction on carrying excess passengers and finally carries passengers almost double of the capacity.
Although a launch normally has the capacity of carrying around 700-800 passengers, it carries around 2000-3000 passengers, putting the life of the people at risk.
Even there was no place for standing in launches while many of the passengers go travelling on the roof.
Assistant Inspector of Dhaka River Port Mamun said, there is no crowd in this Eid festival. The launches have left Dhaka as the other days. But in the afternoon the crowd may grow slightly more than usual.
Special service will be started from today. If there is no crowd, the launch of the special service may not be started, he added. According to Bangladesh Inland Naval Transportation Association, this year, 211 public and private launches will travel from Dhaka to different districts on Eid occation. All possible preparations have been completed.
Members of Coast Guard, Fire Service, Naval Police, and BIWTA, Marine Cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides are working for extra security of passengers.
Alamgir Kabir, joint director (traffic) of Dhaka River Port, said that there will be no problem during this Eid. We have taken all our preparations; hopefully we will be able to complete this Eid journey without any hazard.
We are on duty at the terminal to check launches so that they cannot carry excess passengers. “All the necessary measures have been taken at this terminal for the security of the passenger,” Kabir said.
With only three days left ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, homegoers have started to leave the capital by mostly the rundown and fauly launches to celebrate the occasion with their near and dear ones at village homes and towns, putting lives at risk.
It was alleged that most of these rundown and faulty water vessels got quick facelift to sail on different routes across the country during the two great festivals – Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha.
Accident fear is also increasing in launches for over loading of passengers every year in these two occations.
However, the authorities concerned said that they have taken all possible steps to ensure better and enjoyable journey in waterways for the people of the southern region.
During the Eid journey, every launch defies the restriction on carrying excess passengers and finally carries passengers almost double of the capacity.
Although a launch normally has the capacity of carrying around 700-800 passengers, it carries around 2000-3000 passengers, putting the life of the people at risk.
Even there was no place for standing in launches while many of the passengers go travelling on the roof.
Assistant Inspector of Dhaka River Port Mamun said, there is no crowd in this Eid festival. The launches have left Dhaka as the other days. But in the afternoon the crowd may grow slightly more than usual.
Special service will be started from today. If there is no crowd, the launch of the special service may not be started, he added. According to Bangladesh Inland Naval Transportation Association, this year, 211 public and private launches will travel from Dhaka to different districts on Eid occation. All possible preparations have been completed.
Members of Coast Guard, Fire Service, Naval Police, and BIWTA, Marine Cadets, Scouts and Girl Guides are working for extra security of passengers.
Alamgir Kabir, joint director (traffic) of Dhaka River Port, said that there will be no problem during this Eid. We have taken all our preparations; hopefully we will be able to complete this Eid journey without any hazard.
We are on duty at the terminal to check launches so that they cannot carry excess passengers. “All the necessary measures have been taken at this terminal for the security of the passenger,” Kabir said.
