Due to adverse weather conditions, all types of passenger launches from the capital's Sadarghat port to the southern region were temporarily suspended.
However, the authorities concerned announced the resumption of launch operations as the weather improved slightly.
Although the weather improved, warnings are still in effect on the river route. In the meantime, there have been allegations that several launches left the capital's Sadarghat launch terminal with extra passengers.
On Tuesday (May 26) evening, various launches were seen overflowing with passengers at the Sadarghat terminal.
Especially the launches on the Hatia, Betua and Char Fasson routes were clearly carrying extra passengers. MV Tasrif-3 and MV Tipu-13 launches were seen leaving the terminal with extra passengers.
Passengers were seen standing on the roofs of these launches, as well as in the corridors and stairs.
According to sources at the terminal, although the passenger pressure on the Hatia and Betua routes was relatively high, there were not enough launches in that proportion.
As a result, many passengers waited at the terminal for a long time. Despite repeated announcements from the Sadarghat control room asking passengers to wait, many took the risk and boarded the overloaded launch.
Some passengers were also seen jumping from another launch to a moving launch as the launch departed. This spread panic among the passengers present.
Betua-bound passenger Shahadat said: “The launch is taking passengers to the roof, but no one says anything. God forbid if an accident happens.”
Another Hatia-bound passenger named Shihab Uddin said: “There is no launch to go to Hatia. The two that exist are also full. What should I do now? Even if it is difficult, I have to go in it. How many more hours will I wait?”
Sumon, another Hatia-bound passenger, said: “I have been trying to get a ticket for two days. If I cannot go today, I will not be able to reach home before Eid.”
Meanwhile, some passengers complained that despite the administration’s instructions not to take extra passengers, it is not being effectively followed.
There are also allegations that more passengers were picked up later, although there was some supervision at the gate when the launch departed.
Officials on duty at the Sadarghat terminal were seen preventing many passengers from boarding the launches at their own risk. However, many ignored the instructions and boarded the launches.
BIWTA joint director Muhammad Mobarak Hossain said: “All launches are being monitored to ensure that they do not carry excess passengers. If the launches are full, they are immediately made to leave the terminal.”