Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Tuesday called upon all to remain alert to stop any sorts of extortion on the waterways during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
He also sought cooperation from all including launch owners, district administrations and passengers to ensure safety on the waterways.
The minister came up with the call at a view-exchange meeting with deputy commissioners, superintendents of police of 21 districts, river port authorities, owners and workers of launch at the BIWTA Bhaban at Motijheel in the city.
Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of Dhaka, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Shariatpur, Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalakathi and Khulna were present at the meeting.
Shajahan asked the concerned authority to continue the dredging activities to keep normal the navigability of rivers.
The minister assured of taking up steps to stop plying of sand-laden vessels in the river in the night and overloading and repairing of roads and putting setting up road lights at different areas.
Shipping Ministry Additional Secretary Manoj Kanti Baral, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chairman Commodore Commodore Mohammad Mozammel Haque and BIWTC Chairman Engineer Jnan Ranjan Sil, among others, addressed the meeting.
