On the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, Dhaka river port Sadarghat saw a huge crowd of people heading home from the southern region. The number of passengers at the terminal is increasing since Saturday morning. According to Dhaka River Port Sadarghat Terminal sources, 80 launches left Dhaka River Port today from 5 am to 7 pm. Apart from this, 95 launches have arrived at Sadarghat terminal from various routes in the southern region.
From this morning till evening in the Sadarghat terminal area, the decks of launches bound for Amtali, Jhalkathi, Patuakhali, Bhandaria, Bhola, Bhashanchar, Manpura and Hularhat in the southern region are seen filled with passengers. Hundreds of passengers with their families and belongings are sitting on mats and sheets on the deck of the launch. There was no empty space anywhere on the launch deck. Most of the launches on these routes leave the port ahead of schedule as they are full of passengers.
Kader Hossain, an employee of the MV Tipu-13 launch, which was going to Charfashion in the afternoon, said, ‘Our launch time was 6:30 in the evening. By 3 pm the launch was full of passengers. Therefore, the launch will leave for the destination around 5 pm before the scheduled time.
Farooq Mia, the employee of MV Tipu Launch, who was going to Manpura, was shouting loudly to load the passengers in the launch. He said, ‘After the construction of the Padma Bridge, now there are less passengers in the launch all year round, only there are more passengers during Eid. At this time we get some extra income. That’s why I’m picking up passengers on the launch.’
Kamrul Islam, a passenger of Bhashanchar-bound MV Rajahans-8 launch from Uttara Housebuilding in the capital, said, ‘Our launch will leave at 6:30 in the evening. I came to the launch around one o’clock with my wife and two children to sit in a good place on the launch deck. Even then I did not get a convenient place. Later I sat with my wife and children on a rug in one corner of the deck.’
Ankhi Begum, a passenger of Rangabali-bound MV Balia launch, said, ‘You can travel by sitting on the deck of the launch for a small fare. Apart from this, walking can be done after sitting continuously. So every Eid season we travel by launch.’
Fakhrul Hossain, passenger of Patuakhali-bound MV Sundarban-12 launch, said, ‘Due to heavy traffic in Dhaka city, we have to suffer every time we come to Sadarghat during Eid. This time too it took more than two hours to reach Sadarghat from Gulistan. There is no opportunity to walk down from the bus as there is a wife, children and goods. At least during the Eid season, the administration should be strict in de-congesting the roads, thinking about the river passengers.
Mamun Or Rashid, convenor of Dhaka River Port, owner of launch owners’ organization Inland Navigation (JAP), and owner of MV Yad launch, said that the pressure on passengers will increase if the garment factory is closed. Special launches are already ready to carry passengers.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naval Police Sadarghat Police Station Abul Kalam said that law and order forces along with Naval Police are performing their duties to prevent harassment of passengers on the river route and make their journey smooth. Police are monitoring the launch to prevent violence by Chadar Party, Malam Party and Ajyan Party.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Maritime Safety and Traffic Management Department Dhaka River Port Joint Director Ismail Hossain said that BIWTA officials and law enforcement forces are working to ensure the safety of passengers at the Sadarghat terminal to ensure a safe and smooth Eid journey. All preparations have been made to ensure the safety of the passengers. He also said that under no circumstances can extra passengers be carried on the launch. If any launch instructions are violated, action will be taken against that launch authority.
Three launches fined
The mobile court of BIWTA has fined three launches because the ladders of the launches anchored at Dhaka River Port Sadarghat Terminal are weak and there is no railing on the stairs. The raid was conducted at the Sadarghat terminal in the afternoon.
BIWTA Executive Magistrate Rafiqul Haque led the operation. He said that MV Prince Awlad-10 launch was fined Tk 3,000, MV Al Safin Sattar Khan launch was Tk 5,000 and MV Balia launch was fined Tk 13,000 for lack of railings and weak stairs. The campaign will continue.