Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain, adviser for shipping as well as labour and employment, has said strict action will be taken if complaints are received regarding overcharging of fares and carrying excess passengers on waterways during Eid-ul-Fitr trips.
Sakhawat issued the warning on Thursday while speaking to journalists after a meeting in the Ministry of Shipping's conference room in preparation for the holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
Saying that a set of directives has been issued to the relevant authorities, the adviser added: “If any complaints of overcharging fares or carrying excess passengers on waterways during the upcoming Eid journey are received, strict action will be taken against those responsible.
“Offenders will not only be fined but will also have their route permits revoked. Under no circumstances will unfit water vessels be allowed to operate on waterways. No launch or ferry will be permitted to break serials. The Department of Shipping, along with the relevant authorities, has been instructed to strictly monitor the matter.”
Stating that immediate legal action will be taken upon receiving complaints of overcharging, the adviser said: “Each launch must display the government-mandated fare rate chart at a designated place. If not, action will be taken against the owners."
He mentioned that complaints are often heard that during Eid, passengers are "held hostage" and charged one and a half to two times the standard fare. "Strict action will be taken against such wrongdoers in the upcoming Eid.”
Sakhawat continued: “Those who have been granted leases at Sadarghat or other terminals cannot harass passengers in any way. They cannot charge any additional fees. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and relevant authorities have been instructed to oversee this matter.”
At the same time, the adviser urged all unfit vessels to immediately obtain their fitness certificates.
To ensure overall safety for waterway passengers, the adviser mentioned that Ansar members will be deployed on launches operating at night.
He said: “Staff working on launches or at ferry terminals must wear designated uniforms and carry ID cards. In crime-prone areas such as the Shitalakshya River in Narayanganj, Gazaria in Munshiganj, and the Meghna River in Barisal, special patrols will be conducted by the Bangladesh Navy, alongside the Coast Guard and River Police.”
The adviser further said that from the 15th of Ramadan, the road from Dhaka’s Zero Point to Sadarghat must remain clear.
He stressed: “Under no circumstances will buses be allowed to park haphazardly on the road. The relevant police force will monitor this issue strictly. If necessary, tow trucks must be used to remove the violating buses.”
The adviser also informed journalists that he will conduct sudden inspections at Sadarghat and various water routes to assess the Eid travel preparations.