Waterways: Mobile Courts will be set up to stop passenger over-load, excess fares, speedboat movement at night

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Department of Shipping will conduct drive forming Mobile Courts to stop over-loading of passengers and collection of excess fares in launches as well as ferries.

There have been a request to contact BIWTA hotline number 16113 in case of emergency in waterways.

To stop speedboat movement at night the mobile court will also be applicable.

These decisions were taken on Thursday in the review meeting on the progress of implementation of the decisions of the (March 30) meeting regarding ensuring the safety of passengers on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr-2023.

The meeting was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Shipping. Md Mustafa Kamal, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping presided over the meeting.

The meeting held on March 30 was presided over by State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.

It was informed in the meeting that in light of the decision of the meeting on March 30, from 19 to 25 April 2023, normal trucks and covered van will be banned on transporting through ferries except for trucks carrying essential and perishable goods. All types of sand carrying bulkhead movement will be stopped at night and the relevant authorities will take appropriate measures to stop all sand carrying bulkhead movement round the clock from 17 to 27 April.

Transportation of goods and motorcycles must be completely stopped for five days before Eid in all passenger vessels from Dhaka Sadarghat and for five days after Eid to Dhaka Sadarghat from other river ports, the instruction added.

A press release sent by Md Jahangir Alam Khan, Senior Information Officer of Shipping Ministry notified this.

The guideline also urged to ensure all launch and ferry staff to wear the uniform.