The authorities have yet to implement their promise of increasing ferries and launches at the Daulatdia ghat to ensure a smooth flow of passengers returning home during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
The officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) earlier announced to provide 21 more ferries and 33 launches during Eid.
On the contrary, due to the breakdown of three ferries in the fleet, only 17 small and large ferries have been operating now. So far, no launch has been added to the fleet.
Meanwhile, the road towards the pier at Daulatdia, which was damaged in the last flood, have not been repaired yet. For this, people have to rely on bamboo and wooden bridges to navigate the dock, according to Daulatdia Launch Dock Manager Nurul Anwar Milon.
He raised concerns over the risk of an accident at the launch dock at any moment.
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Asked about the promised increase in launches, he said that they would add additional launched if the rush of homebound passengers increases.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam, acting port officer at BIWTA, claimed that arrangements had been made for the smooth passage of passengers on the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway.
Prafulla Chauhan, manager at the Daulatdia Dock Branch of BIWTC, said: "At present, there are a total of 17 ferries moving through the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway, including 11 ro-ros (large), five utilities (small) and one small ferry."
He added that a total of 21 ferries would operate during the Eid while the rest would be added to the fleet very soon.