Accra:The Ministry of Shipping has issued a comprehensive set of 16 directives aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers traveling via waterways during the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the directives include measures such as keeping rescue vessels ready for emergencies and suspending the operation of unfit vessels. The ministry has also mandated the prevention of fare overcharging and banned speedboat operations at night.
Passenger safety is further emphasized through instructions for boarding and disembarking only at designated terminal pontoons. The transfer of passengers between launches and boats or trawlers in the middle of rivers is prohibited, specifically at Sadarghat and similar locations. Additionally, vessels must display government-approved fare charts to prevent the collection of excess fares.
To mitigate risks, unfit vessels and ferries are not allowed to operate, and speedboats must avoid traveling through the middle of rivers during the day. Passengers are required to be provided with life jackets. Furthermore, rescue vessels must remain on standby for prompt response to accidents or emergencies, and firefighting capabilities must be enhanced at key river ports. Compliance with weather warnings is also mandated.
The directives also focus on maintaining order at terminals by preventing hawkers and canvassers from occupying the Sadarghat River Terminal and its pontoon areas. Information about vessel routes and pontoons should be visible at terminal entrances, and illegal parking must be curbed. Authorities are tasked with maintaining navigability on waterways and regulating vehicle entry and queuing at ferry terminals. Passengers, excluding drivers, are required to disembark from vehicles before boarding ferries, with instructional signboards to be installed for guidance.
Improvement of facilities at terminals to cater to women, children, and passengers with disabilities is also outlined. This includes access to drinking water, sanitation, security, mobile charging facilities, and rest areas. Furthermore, hotline numbers for emergency assistance must be displayed on launches, including contacts for the National Emergency Service, Fire Service, BIWTA passenger service, and the Coast Guard.
For weather updates, passengers and operators can contact specific numbers provided. The directives, signed by Chhanda Paul, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, have been dispatched to relevant agencies like the BIWTA, BIWTC, and the Department of Shipping for implementation.