Ensure safe journey of holidaymakers
The shipping ministry yesterday urged all authorities concerned to take necessary steps to ensure safe journey of homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
The ministry came up with directives and recommendations in a meeting at the capital’s Bidyut Bhaban, with State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair.
“Since navigability of the rivers increased this year, I call upon all officials concerned to take caution for ensuring safety of Eid holidaymakers,” said the state minister.
He advised authorities, including police, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Coast Guard, among others, to ensure security and convenience of passengers and bring discipline in plying of water transports.
The directives and recommendations include taking stern steps against launch owners who charge extra fare from passengers, stopping transports overloaded with passengers or goods, and deploying patrol police forces and special vigilance teams to prevent incidents of mugging, extortion and harassment.
Other recommendations are keeping the road from Sadarghat Terminal to Bahadur Shah Park free of hawkers and traffic congestion, stopping random parking of vehicles on the terminal area, and halting operation of cargo ships and sand-laden bulkheads at night.
All trucks -- except those carrying sacrificial animals -- will be stopped from using the ferries three days before and after Eid. Wreckers will be deployed for the four ferry terminals at Paturia-Daulatdia and Shimulia-Kathalbari, shipping ministry sources said.
Among others, police, launch owners and labourers from different parts of the country exchanged views with the ministry.
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