People happy with smooth Eid journey: Khalid

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said the Eid journey of this year was very smooth as common people expressed their happiness, reports BSS.
"The Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated across the country with festive mood. People were able to go home and come back to their working places easily," he told the journalists while exchanging Eid greetings with a cross section of people at his ministry conference room.
Khalid Mahmud said the number of sacrificial animals was more than last Eid amid intense heat wave across the country.
"But rain brought happiness to people and it was the special mercy of the Almighty Allah. Now the time is to plant Aman paddy," he said.
The state minister said this rain is an Eid gift to the farmers, adding, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prayed to Allah for rain."
About the fire broke out in a launch 'MV Mayur-7' at Lalkuthi Ghat of Sadarghat Terminal last Friday, he said there was no casualty due to prompt action. The Department of Shipping has already formed a six-member committee to investigate into the incident.
The committee has been directed to submit its report within 10 working days, Khalid Mahmud said.
He said another fire broke out in the oil tanker 'OT Sagar Nandini-2' in the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi.
The fire started from the kitchen but the tanker survived without major disaster as the fire could not touch the oil tank. Jhalkathi district administration formed a committee in this regard.
"During the last 15 years we have taken all out measures to ensure security. Measures were taken to dig waterways. Dredgers were procured to dredge the rivers for movement of transports smoothly," he said.