Barisal Correspondent :
The seven-month-long restriction against plying passenger carrying water transports without valid sea-going licenses on risky routes touching at least 26 stations in the danger zone of Meghna River estuary and coastal areas becomes effective from early Sunday, March 15.
The routes touching major stations like Ilisha, Shahabajpur, Mozuchowdhurir Hut, Daulatkhan, Mirzakalu, Char Alexander, Monpura, Serajganj, Char Shashiganj, Betua, Aslampur, Buriabon, Barguna, Patharghata, Baro Machua on Meghna, Ilisha, Kocha, Baleswar, Bishkhali, Tentulia and Bura Gourango Rivers and estuaries.
The 210-day restriction was first imposed by the sea transportation directorate on June 18, 2000 following some fatal launch and trawler accidents in previous years in the areas on about 3000 kilometers long routes , said Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director (marine safety and traffic management) Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity at Barisal.
The ban on plying passenger transports without having valid license or sea-survey fitness was aimed at saving lives of the travelers as the region is vulnerable to natural calamities like cyclone, storm and nor-wester and water transports was main mode of transportation, Bashar added.
BIWTA authority already ordered to stop plying of all passenger-carrying trawlers and postponed route permits of 14 passenger carrying launches on routes connecting Ilisha, Majuchowdhurir Hut, Char Alexander, Daulatkhan, Mirzakalu, Aslampur, Tajumuddin, Monpura, Char Shashivushan, Char Montaj, Dashmina, Char Kajal, said Sourav Hossain, inspector BIWTA office in Barisal.
