Participants at an exchange of views between law enforcers, stake holders and water transport operators on Sunday at the conference room of Barishal Metropolitan Police stressed safety and security assurances for the passengers of Barishal-Dhaka-Barishal water transportation route during Eid special trips.
The water transport passengers of the route alleged that they feel insecure during the journey because of absence of security personals on the vessel, less navigability of route, operating vessels by untrained crews, over loading and not maintaining regular time schedule during that period. `As a result journey of Barishal-Dhaka-Barisal will remain insecure’ said Ismail Hossain Negaban, a passenger and Govt. pleader of the Barisal bar.
Acting commissioner of BMP presiding over the programme requested the water transport owners to deploy members of Ansar forces on the vessel for ensuring safety and security on board of the vessel passengers especially during special trips of Eid vacation. Rezaul Islam Rezin, Director of triple-deck Suravi launch fleet owned by Crescent Navigation, said they want to deploy Ansars on the vessel, but after increasing their salary, it became non-affordable for them.
At present only MV Sundardan-10 of Prime Navigation using Ansars for safety and security of the passengers.
The acting police commissioner said they opening control rooms at Barishal river port, will try their best to ensure safety and security of the passengers after arrival at the station.
Golam Rouf Khan, deputy commissioner of BMP, alleged that around more than seventy percent luxurious triple deck launches of the route have failed to install CC camera on their vessel after repeated request.
Police officials said absence of installing CC camera also made the launch trips insecure and advised to install those on every vessel before special trips.
In the meeting vessel owners, passengers and police officials said also requested BIWTA officials to ensure smooth navigability of the route by dredging, putting marking signs and beacon lights.
Water transport owners and crews were also asked not to compete during operating water transport in the river route, especially on narrow places like Miarechar, Charmonai area for reaching and returning earlier to load more passengers.
About maintain time schedule and restricting over loading, the launch owners said magistrate on duty at the river port forced them to leave the port to restrict over loading, they have nothing to do in this matter.
Mentionable, every year at least five lakhs passengers use water transports to reach native home through Barishal river port making their journeys risky and uncomfortable.
