Steps taken to avert launch accidents
Stern measures are to be taken against launches carrying passengers beyond their capacity during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Besides no launch will be allowed to carry passengers on its top deck from 21st of Ramadan onwards.
These and other decisions were taken at a meeting held at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) office with chairman Mohammad Abdul Mannan Hawlader in the chair.
BIWTA has taken up 21 cautionary measures, including stern action against launches taking on passengers beyond their capacity, with a view to making journeys by river safer during the vacation of holy Eid-ul-fitr.
Launches will not be allowed to anchor in midstream of the River Buriganga and the boats will only be allowed to anchor on the northern side of the river. The number of existing pontoons and gangways at the terminals will be increased before the Eid and dedicated to specific launch routes.
The meeting also decided to brief the launch masters about BIWTA's decisions and deploy volunteers alongside law enforcement agencies at the launch terminals to maintain discipline ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
The meeting asked officials concerned to display passenger fares at the terminals. It also asked the launch masters to vacate the terminal as soon as they receive signals from the port officers to begin their journeys.
The BIWTA meeting was attended, among others, by Captain AKM Shafiullah, director general of the Directorate of Shipping, and Badiuzzaman Badal, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Passenger Carriers Association.
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