Special services for homebound passengers

BARISAL, Oct 29 (UNB): Three state-owned transport authorities of BIWTA, BIWTC and BRTC announced to operate special water and road transport services to manage surge of home bound passengers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources said detail schedule of the routes would be announced soon in media. BIWTC stations on Barisal-Narayanganj route have been asked to provide special tug boats and piloting services and to face any emergency calls, the BIWTC sources said. Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general manager of BIWTC, in charge of Barisal station said BIWTC will operate 11-day Eid special service in addition to regular steamer services from November 2 to 12 on Dhaka-Chandpur-Barisal-Jhalakati- Hularhat-Morelganj routes. Wakil Newaz, deputy director of BIWTA, in charge of Barisal Port, said BIWTA in cooperation with launch owners association will operate 13-day Eid-special launch services from November 1 to 13 connecting 22 destinations under Eid special service. Eid special launch services would touch Chandpur, Letrabazar, Barisal, Torki, Patuakhali, Kalaia, Rangabali, Bhola, Borhanuddin, Lalmohan, Barguna, Amtali, Ichli, Madaripur, Hularhat connecting Dhaka River Port and Chandpur, Barisal, Taltala, Ramchandrapur, Machhuakhali, Sureswar connecting Narayanganj and Chandpur River Ports. This year no direct connection of BIWTC service with Khulna from Dhaka was arranged due to shortage of passengers. The special private launch services will also be operated on Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal route on occasion of Eid festival, said the Barisal Launch Owners' Association sources. Barisal BIWTC sources said the passenger fare of BIWTC carriers would remain same on special trips as normal period and it is 50 percent less than private vessel fare chart. Accordingly passengers of BIWTC vessels on Dhaka-Barisal-Dhaka route in single trip have to pay Tk 565 for a first class cabin seat, Tk 355 for a second class cabin seat and Tk 95 for each deck seat in comparison of Tk 800 for per first class cabin seat, Tk 1250-1400 per VVIP cabin seat, Tk 400-500 per sofa and Tk 200 per deck seat of the private launch service on the same route. Besides 11-day special sea truck services will connect 11 stations of coastal routes under Barisal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Noakhali districts and two coastal ships MV Abdul Matin and MV Manirul Huq, will operate under regular and Eid special services connecting different destinations including Hatiya, Sandwip, Chittagong, Bhola, Barisal as Eid special from November 2-12.