The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is going to roll out a special launch service on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha today (Thursday), officials said.
The special service, aimed at facilitating smooth journey of homebound passengers during the festive season, will continue until August 20.
As Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated on August 12, thousands of city dwellers are expected to leave for their village homes to join their near and dear ones in celebration of the second largest religious festival of Muslim.
"We will start our special service on August 8 (today)," an official of BIWTC stationed at Dhaka River Port Terminal at Sadarghat in the city told the FE.
Five vessels will be operated during the special service, he added.
The vessels are PS Mashud, PS Lepcha, and PS Turn, the MV Modhumoti and MV Bangali. They will set sail from the Sadarghat river terminal to various destinations in Barishal, Jhalakathi, Hularhat of Pirojpur, and Morolganj of Bagerhat districts. As per schedule, the MV Modhumoti and the PS Turn will depart from the Sadarghat river port at 6:30pm and 7:00pm respectively today (Thursday).
The ticket fares of the special service will remain the same as regular service, the BIWTC official said.
A ticket on Dhaka-Barisal route (169 km) will cost Tk 1,050 for a first class cabin seat while Tk 630 for a second class cabin seat (equivalent to first class on private launches) and Tk 170 for a deck seat.
In addition to vessel service, sea trucks will also run on 11 coastal routes to carry passengers to various destinations in Barishal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Noakhali and Chittagong districts, including Maju Chowdhurir Hat, Manpura, Shashiganj, Ilisha, Charchenga, Boyarchar, Hatiya, Kumira and Guptachhara.
Besides, two coastal ships of BIWTC -- MV Monirul Huq and MV Baro-Awlia -- will be operated from August 8 to 17 to ferry passengers from Chittagong to different destinations in Hatiya and Sandwip.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com