The Government has introduced sweeping restrictions on river transport ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, banning passengers from boarding launches directly from boats or trawlers and ordering round-the-clock surveillance at major river terminals to prevent deadly accidents during the busy holiday travel period.
The Ministry of Shipping announced the measures following a high-level preparatory meeting aimed at ensuring safe, orderly and uninterrupted river transport during one of the country’s peak travel seasons.
Officials say the directives mark one of the toughest crackdowns in recent years on irregular passenger boarding practices, particularly at Dhaka’s Sadarghat river terminal.
Under the new directives, passengers will only be allowed to board or disembark launches via designated pontoon terminals operated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). Direct boarding from boats or trawlers, whether alongside docked vessels or in mid-river has been strictly prohibited.
Authorities warned that violations could result in immediate voyage cancellation and punitive action through mobile courts.
“We do not want a repeat of the tragic incidents seen in previous Eid journeys,” Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping for Bangladesh Shaikh Rabiul Alam said during the meeting.
“No passenger will be allowed to board or disembark from launches using boats or trawlers under any circumstances. Law enforcement agencies must ensure strict compliance day and night.”
Officials said the move follows a fatal accident at Sadarghat on March 18 during an Eid travel, in which two people, a father and son, were killed after being crushed between vessels and falling into the river.
The incident occurred during alleged illegal transfer of passengers by trawler to the launch MV Asha-Jawa-5, which was docked at a pontoon, when another vessel, MV Jakir Samrat-3, struck it during boarding operations, triggering widespread criticism over transport safety lapses.
Officials familiar with post-incident assessments said unauthorized trawler-based boarding and poor berthing discipline were identified as key risk factors. The latest directives are intended to close those loopholes before Eid travel peaks.
As part of the new measures, surveillance will be intensified at Sadarghat and other key river terminals through continuous monitoring from CCTV control rooms. The Coast Guard and River Police have been instructed to maintain round-the-clock patrols, while district police in Keraniganj will coordinate efforts to prevent illegal trawler access from the opposite riverbank.
Officials said no launch will be permitted to berth without clearance from control rooms, and vessels must follow designated docking procedures to reduce collision risks.
To ease congestion and navigational hazards during Eid travel, the government has suspended the movement of bulkheads and sand-carrying vessels for 10 days, from May 23 to June 2. Sand extraction activities will also remain halted during this period, with district administrations directed to enforce the order.
River transport experts say heavy cargo vessels often create hazardous conditions for passenger launches in narrow and congested waterways during peak travel periods.
The government has also imposed restrictions on speedboats, banning nighttime operations during the Eid period. Daytime operations will be allowed only if both drivers and passengers wear life jackets.
In addition, authorities have banned small dinghy boats around Sadarghat and prohibited fishing nets in navigation channels to ensure smoother vessel movement.
The ministry has warned launch operators against carrying excess passengers, allowing rooftop travel or violating serial berthing rules. Operators found breaching regulations may face licence suspension or cancellation.
Each passenger launch will be required to deploy at least four Ansar personnel during the Eid travel, with operators responsible for associated costs. Authorities also cautioned against charging fares above government-approved rates.
To improve crowd management, launches have been instructed to depart immediately upon reaching approved capacity, rather than waiting to take on additional passengers.
To reduce pressure on the capital’s main terminal, authorities plan to introduce new services from Bosila Ghat near Bosila Bridge and Shimulia Ghat near Kanchan Bridge in Purbachal, aiming to distribute passenger flow more evenly during the Eid rush.
Meanwhile, Sadarghat Terminal will be kept free of hawkers and canvassers during the period, with joint deployments of Ansar, community police, and river police at entry points, jetties, and pontoons. Volunteers will also be engaged to maintain cleanliness and discourage littering.
“Our objective is to ensure Eid travel by water becomes safer, more comfortable and better managed,” the minister added, saying lessons from previous years had informed the stricter approach.
