Launches won\\\'t allow rooftop passengers during Eid
FE Report | Thursday, 17 July 2014
The BIWTA, launch owners and other government agencies concerned decided to take some measures Wednesday that include not allowing passengers to occupy rooftop of launches for travel during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival.
They also decided to start special launch services from July 24 to August 3 to facilitate passengers to celebrate the festival with their near and dear ones hassle-free.
The decisions came at a preparatory meeting for ensuring homebound launch passengers' security at the BIWTA conference room in the capital.
The meeting also decided to offer 10 per cent discount on launch fares and take stringent actions against black marketing of tickets, and not to allow passengers to get on board of launches by using boats rather than pontoon.
Besides, it decided to launch helicopter patrolling for ensuring safety of the homebound passengers during the Eid-ul-Fitr.
"We are actively considering engaging helicopters for patrolling on four river routes," BIWTA chairman Md Samsuddoha Khondaker said while presiding over the meeting.
The four routes are - Dhaka-Barisal, Dhaka-Chandpur, Mawa-Char Janajat and Paturia- Daulaudia.
He said if any untoward incident occurs on the routes, the helicopter patrol could response promptly to rescue passengers.
"We are talking with the department concerned to rent four helicopters. BIWTA has set up a monitoring cell to look after the river routes and passengers' security".
BIWTA will engage 40 ships to ensure passengers' security. Besides it will give 10 speedboats to the police for patrolling the rivers routes, he added.
The BIWTA chairman said they will gear up safety measures for the homebound launch passengers during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival, and are taking all necessary preparations in this regard.
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, he also said.