Passengers suffer as only 2 launches ply either way
Defying the rules and regulations for route permit issued by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Launch Owners' Association has continued self-imposed 'rotation system' on Barisal-Dhaka route, much to the inconvenience of passengers.
Recently the situation has worsened as the association on September 4 decided to operate only two launches from each of Dhaka and Barisal ends defying their previous decision to run four launches from each end.
In mid-February in 2005, the BNP-backed Inland Water Transport Owners' Association led by controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun imposed the rotation system that kept provision for operating four launches from Dhaka and Barisal every day.
Due to the rotation system, passengers are facing problem in choosing better transport for journey and booking seats as per their choice.
Launch owners said they had to take the decision to avoid losses as the number of deck passengers drastically decreased.
From September 26, four launches will start plying from each side and from September 28 special trips will start for Eid, said launch owners association leaders in Barisal.
“We requested the authorities to consider the matter of decrease in the number of passengers which forced us to incur huge loss daily,” Golam Kibria Tipu, a member of the executive committee of Launch Owners Association, told reporters.
Passengers and legal aid groups have demanded cancellation of the rotation system.
Following filing of a case by an affected passenger, a Barisal court gave verdict declaring rotation system as illegal at the end of 2006.
Due to pressure from the launch owners, the BIWTA earlier failed to cancel the 'rotation system' of launch trips on Dhaka-Barisal route and implement the terms and conditions of the route permit and the timetables.
BIWTA Deputy Director (passenger transport) Rafiqul Islam, and Assistant Director Reazul Islam said they informed the higher authorities of the situation and action would be taken against violators of rules.
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