Govt to raise safety measures for launch passengers in Eid

The government will gear up safety measures for the homebound launch passengers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival, and the authority concerned is taking necessary preparations in this regard, a high official said.   
To this effect, the state-owned Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will take measures for ensuring safety of the passengers 10 days before the Eid-ul-Fitr. It will continue 10 days after the Eid festival.
"We will deploy 80 river vessels at different river ports for ensuring the homebound passengers' safety during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival," BIWTA chairman Dr Samsuddoha Khondaker told the FE Thursday.
He said the passengers' safety measures will be increased this year compared with the previous years, as they will deploy river police for the first time along with coast guard, fire service and BIWTA personnel.
Asked about the artificial fare hike by a section of launch owners during the Eid festival, the BIWTA chief said, "We will ensure strict monitoring, so that none can raise fare of launch services."
He said the ministry of shipping (MoS) will hold an inter-ministerial meeting Sunday for ensuring safety of the passengers of launches, steamers and ferry services during Eid.
The meeting will suggest initiatives for stopping passengers' harassment on the river routes during the upcoming festival, as the number of offensive acts by anti-social elements usually rises during the Eid season.
The meeting will urge all the water vessel owners not to overload their vessels to ensure safe journey of the passengers during the Eid-ul-Fitr.
It may also take decision to evict all illegal shops and structures at port terminals to eliminate traffic congestion and ensure law and order.
It will also give directives to the authorities concerned to stop harassment of the passengers by snatchers, toll-collectors and porters at the terminals.
The government will deploy mobile courts at all river ports to ensure safe journey of the homebound people.
Apart from the inter-ministerial meeting, BIWTA will also hold a meeting with the launch owners on July 10 to discuss the homebound launch passengers' safety.
"In the meeting we will discuss about the passengers' safety with the launch owners during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr," Dr Khondaker said.  
He said there will be a committee for each of the river ports. Officials of district administration, BIWTA, coast guard and river police as well as representatives from the launch owners and passengers will be in the committee to ensure safety of the river route passengers.
Taking to the FE an influential member of the launch owners association said they will try to provide better services to the passengers during the Eid without increasing fares. He, however, requested the government to stop extortion at ferry terminals.
He said the launch owners association of Sadarghat will form community police this year to check the passengers' harassment.