Passengers throng Sadarghat terminal

The Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat Launch Terminal) in the capital witnessed a substantial number of passengers on Monday, who were travelling to different destinations to avoid last-moment rush during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday.
Visiting the terminal on the day, the FE correspondent found decks of most of the south-bound launches were full-packed, as a significant number of passengers thronged the terminal to go to their respective village homes.
"We are going to our village home for celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr to avoid last-hour rush," Md Abdur Rashid Sikder, a Barisal-bound passenger with three family members on board of M V Pubali, told the FE.
He also said he was not overcharged by the launch operator.
The deck fares of launches on Dhaka-Barisal, Dhaka-Patuakhali and Dhaka-Borguna routes range between Tk 400 and Tk 480.
Different launch operators said except deck tickets, cabin tickets of different classes were sold out in advance just a couple of days ago due to their huge demand during the Eid season.
"We have sold almost all cabin tickets in advance following heavy demand," Md Jewel, an official of M K Shipping Lines at its Sadarghat ticket counter, told the FE.
He said due to the Covid-19 pandemic many people could not celebrate the Eid festivals at their village homes during the last two years.
This year many people prefer to celebrate the Eid at their village homes, as the coronavirus outbreak situation improved in the country due to mass vaccination by the government.
He, however, admitted that they kept some tickets for the VIPs to meet their last moment demands.
The fares of single cabin on Dhaka-Barisal route range from Tk 1,500 to Tk 1,600 each, while double cabin Tk 3,000, family cabin Tk 4,000, and VIP cabin Tk 6,000.
Acting Joint Director (river safety and traffic management) Sheik Mohammed Selim Reza told the FE that they had taken all preparations to ensure safety and security of the homebound passengers during the biggest religious festival of the Muslim community.
"We have taken all preparations to ensure safety, security and hassle-free journey of the holiday-makers during the Eid festival."
He noted that the law-enforcers, including police and Ansar personnel, were duly discharging their duties at the terminal. Besides, control rooms were set up at the terminal to ensure passengers' security.
The launch owners said they would not overcharge the passengers during the Eid vacation.
Around 70 to 75 launches are now operating on different routes. But the number would be 125 to 130 just two or three days before the Eid.
The launches that are now operating have fitness certificates - issued by the department concerned, they added.
"We will not take any extra fare from the passengers during the Eid-ul-Fitr season," Convenor of Dhaka River Port Management Committee Mamun-Or-Rashid told the FE.
He noted that there was no report of selling tickets at black market, as they were alert to curb this bad practice.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, while visiting the Sadarghat terminal on Sunday, urged the launch owners not to overcharge the passengers.
He added that the law-enforcing personnel, including coast guard, river police and others, are prepared to ensure safety of the passengers while travelling during the Eid vacation.
The launch operators assured the minister that they would comply with the government directives for the sake of passengers' interests.

[email protected]