The government has decided not to allow covered vans and trucks using ferry for nine days before and after Eid-ul-Azha to facilitate smooth movement of cattle and goods-laden trucks.
However, passenger services of launches will continue as usual during the upcoming festival in compliance with the health safety protocol.
Shipping ministry at a virtual meeting on Wednesday also took some decisions including disallowing movement of sand and goods cargoes at night time during Eid.
State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting that also discussed launch passengers' safety during Eid.
As decided, only cattle and essential commodity-laden trucks could avail ferry service five days before and three days after Eid.
Mr Chowdhury said the health safety guideline must be followed both by passengers and launch operators during Eid trip to help prevent Covid-19.
He directed BIWTA officials, launch owners and operators to properly execute the guideline.
The junior minister urged the operators not to carry passengers beyond a launch's capacity and charge extra fare during the festival.
The meeting asked them to ensure the presence of the master and other staffs while boarding passengers on a launch.
Stern action will be taken against operators if they take in passengers from mid-river by using boats.
Movement of speedboats will be restricted at nights. Passengers must wear lifejackets while travelling by speedboats during daytime.
Bangladesh Coast Guard will be deployed at Sadarghat Dhaka River Port Terminal to help check passengers getting aboard launches from mid-river using boats.
Wednesday's meeting also directed the operators to preserve photograph, cellphone number and national ID card number of every passenger before starting journey.
Mobile courts will be operated to check overcharging by profit-monger launch operators during the festival.
Shipping secretary Mohammad Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury, BIWTC chairman Khaja Mia, BIWTA chairman Cdre Golam Sadeq, shipping department director general Cdre Syed Ariful Islam, and launch operators' representatives Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram and Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, among others, were present.
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