Though the number of passengers heading to greater Barisal has reduced due to the Padma Bridge, the Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka will face unusual pressure from homebound people during the upcoming Eid.
Around 3 million people from Dhaka and surrounding districts will leave for coastal districts on waterways. Among them, at least 2.7 million will pass through the Sadarghat launch terminal with 300,000 people on average daily in nine days, according to a report of the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.
Its President Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey on Tuesday published the summary of the report through a press release.
The National Committee has recommended raising the number of vessels in an alternative way for the government to handle the pressure of additional passengers and ensure hassle-free and safe Eid journey.
The report said about 15 million people leave Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj during Eid-ul-Fitr each year.
Among them, 25% travel on waterways. Almost cent percent of these passengers are from the coastal districts of Barisal, Pirojpur, Jhalkathi, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chandpur, Shariatpur and Madaripur, it said.
The civic organization said after opening the Padma Bridge last June, the rate of waterway passengers of coastal districts, excluding Chandpur, has decreased by about 20%; which is 5% of the total Eid holidaymakers.
As a result, 3 million people (20% of the total passengers) will go by launch during this Eid and at least 2.7 million of them will go through Dhaka river port.
According to the report, the rush of home-bound people will start from April 13, the last working day of the previous week. All waterway passengers from the greater Dhaka region will go home in nine days from April 13-21(the day before Eid).
As a result, 300,000 people will pass through Sadarghat terminal every day and the remaining passengers will use Narayanganj river port.
Referring to the crisis of navigability, the report said there were 41 waterways officially from Dhaka to various destinations.
However, at least 15 waterways have apparently already been abandoned due to navigability crisis and lack of passengers.
Quoting the shortage of vessels, the national committee said that a maximum of 70 launches regularly operate on the remaining 26 waterways.
This number will increase to around 180 before Eid. Of this, 90 vessels will depart from Sadarghat for various destinations and 90 will arrive from different places.
The civic organization also said if 300,000 passengers are carried in 90 launches every day, one launch will carry almost 3,500 passengers on average. But none of the launches has a capacity of more than 2,000 people. Even many launches have a passenger capacity of less than 1,000.
In addition, three days before Eid, the crowd will increase one and a half times more.
Many launches carry double to triple passengers beyond the capacity to handle the pressure. As a result, additional passengers will be carried on the roof and deck, the report said.
The organization stressed the need to take appropriate measures for the authorities concerned to reduce the risks of waterway accidents and public suffering.
It urged the authorities concerned, including the law enforcement agencies to ensure maximum surveillance and tight security on the waterways and the terminals.
