Staff Reporter :
After the suspension for over two months, launch and steamer services will resume on 34 river routes across the country from Sunday amid the coronavirus outbreak.
AKM Arif Uddin, joint director, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Saturday said 40 to 50 launches will operate primarily on 34 routes. “The number of vessels will be increased depending on the demand of passengers.”
Visiting Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Saturday, it was seen that the BIWTA employees preparing the terminal while workers were cleaning and preparing their vessels to resume operation on Sunday.
The owners and staff of different launches said they will carry half the passengers of the capacity of their vessels following the guidelines of the government.
They also said they will strictly follow the health safety guidelines to ensure safety of their passengers.
Several launches are scheduled to leave Sadarghat Terminal for different destinations, including Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and Pirojpur between 5pm and 9pm.
Earlier on Thursday, the government on Thursday issued a gazette notification allowing resumption of both the public and private offices and the limited operation public transports, passenger vessels and domestic flight from May 31 to June 15.
