The first sea truck on Narayanganj-Munshiganj route started operation on Thursday after the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) canceled the route permit for small launches on this route.
The vessel, "ST Abdur Rob Serniabat", started for Munshiganj from Narayanganj terminal at 2:15pm.
The movement of all passenger-carrying sunken-deck launches remained suspended from Tuesday, two days after Munshiganj-bound launch "ML Asraf Uddin", carrying around 50-60 passengers, capsized in the Shitalakshya River being hit by cargo vessel "MV Rupshi-9", leaving 12 people dead so far.
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“The decision to start sea truck service on this route was taken to reduce the hassles of the passengers and ensure their safety," said Ahmed Shamim Al Raji, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).
"ST Abdur Rob Serniabat" with capacity to carry 200 passengers will operate every day from 6am to evening. The fare is fixed at Tk40 per person.
"Eventually the number of sea trucks will be increased on this route,” he added.
“No sunken-deck launches will be allowed to operate on this route anymore,” said BIWTA Chairman Commodore Golam Sadek.