Operators on Friday abruptly suspended movement of four launches on Barisal-Dhaka route, saying that the shortage of passengers has prompted them to take the decision a day before the BNP's rally in the capital.
The BNP and associate bodies, however, claimed that the suspension order came to spoil their scheduled rally like the previous transport strikes in divisional cities.
Md Kabir, inspector of inland security and traffic management of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in Barisal, confirmed the matter of suspension on Friday evening.
He said only a launch ‘Parabat-11' will leave for Dhaka from Barisal on Friday. The suspension order of running four launches was taken considering the shortage of passengers.
The movement of launches--Prince Awalad, Parabat-18, Surovi-7 and Sundarban-11--was suspended, he said.
Only launches ‘Shuvoraj and Farhan-7's carrying passengers will leave Dhaka for Barisal and Jhalkati on Friday, he said.
Besides, no launch will leave for Dhaka from Jhalakati on Friday.
Md Sumon, a staff of the ‘Parabat-11', said most people are not going to Dhaka fearing violence ahead of the BNP rally.
UNB's Barisal correspondent also found a thin presence of passengers in the launch compared to any other day.
Maniruzzaman, convener of Barisal city unit BNP, alleged that the government has taken several tactics to foil their Dhaka rally and for that reason the decision to suspend operations of launches was taken.
‘'However, we have already arrived in Dhaka to join the rally'', he said.
