Dhaka: Ahead of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Azha, the government has undertaken extensive preparations to ensure safe, comfortable, and orderly travel for homebound passengers on the country’s waterways.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a series of strict and coordinated measures have been adopted this year to prevent disorder on water routes during the Eid journey.
In view of this, a high-level meeting was held recently in the Ministry of Shipping with the shipping minister in the chair, from which some special directives were issued regarding waterway security, law and order, passenger services, fare control, ferry terminal management, and vessel operations. Rabiul Alam emphasized effective management to ensure Eid travel on waterways in a secure and relaxed environment.
Officials of the ministry noted that instead of separate control rooms by different agencies at Sadarghat, one Central Control Room will be operated jointly by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Department of Shipping, Fire Service, River Police, Coast Guard, and law enforcement agencies. Additionally, CCTV monitoring at key points in Sadarghat will be strengthened, with round-the-clock surveillance maintained from watchtowers.
A minimum of four Ansar members will be deployed on every launch from May 19 to June 2, tasked with preventing illegal boarding and ensuring passenger safety. Carrying excess passengers, allowing rooftop travel, and transporting excessive cargo on launches have been prohibited, with violations potentially resulting in punitive measures, including route permit cancellation.
The meeting decided that passengers would not be allowed to board or disembark in the middle of rivers through trawlers or boats. River Police and the Coast Guard will enforce this directive with day-and-night patrols. No boarding or disembarking will be allowed in the Sadarghat area except at designated trawler terminals. To prevent river accidents, sand-carrying bulkhead movement will be suspended nationwide for ten days before and after Eid, from May 23 to June 2.
Movement of dinghy boats from Sadarghat will also be suspended, while launches will operate from terminals near Bosila Bridge in Mohammadpur and Shimulia terminal near Kanchan Bridge in Purbachal to reduce passenger pressure at Sadarghat. A BRTC shuttle bus service is planned at Shimulia terminal, and new facilities like pontoons, toilets, rest areas, trolleys, and wheelchairs will be arranged at both terminals.
There are plans to operate launches on Barishal, Bhola, Hatiya, Betua, and Chandpur routes from Bosila and Shimulia routes. Speaking to BSS, State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan stated that the government has taken decisions to ensure uninterrupted waterway travel during Eid, with passenger launches also operating from Shimulia and Bosila.
From May 21 to June 2, the DMP traffic department and Dhaka South City Corporation have been instructed to keep roads from Zero Point to Sadarghat free from congestion. The meeting also discussed keeping roads free from hawkers, removing disorderly vehicles, and introducing one-way traffic systems if necessary.
Muhammad Mobarak Hossain, Joint Director of the Naval Safety and Traffic Management Department of BIWTA’s Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat), highlighted that preparations this year are more organized and extensive. Integrated initiatives include free porter and trolley services for passengers at Sadarghat, and collecting fares above government-approved rates is prohibited. Approved fare charts must be displayed at all terminals and launches, with mobile courts conducted against overcharging.
Launch owners’ associations have been urged to transport passengers at fares 10 percent lower than revised rates during Eid. Instructions have been issued to increase night patrols on important waterways to prevent robbery and extortion, with vigilance teams formed in every terminal area.
It has been decided to display fares and emergency hotline numbers on digital screens in every launch. Emergency hotline numbers like National Emergency Service 999, Fire Service 102, BIWTA hotline 16113, and Coast Guard hotline 16111 will be widely publicized. Special facilities for women, children, elderly passengers, and persons with special needs will be ensured, including breastfeeding corners, pure drinking water, mobile charging stations, and improved toilet services.
The Ministry of Shipping has instructed authorities to ensure safety in transporting sacrificial animals by waterways, control excessive vehicles at ferry terminals, make life jackets mandatory on speedboats, and strictly follow weather warnings during adverse conditions. State Minister Rajib Ahsan mentioned that trolley services at Sadarghat are arranged to reduce passenger suffering, with no charges for trolley use.
He added that steps have been taken to stop harassment by hawkers and porters at Sadarghat, and instructions have been issued to prevent passengers from risking accidents while boarding launches using speedboats or small boats. Separate stairways have been arranged at Sadarghat, and regular patrols have been intensified, he noted.