At least 200 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), a student wing of ruling party, have made a launch journey from Barisal to Dhaka without paying fare, alleged, supervisor of the launch.
A convoy of more than 200 leaders and activists of BCL left Barisal on Dhaka-bound triple-deck launch MV Suravi 7 on Friday night. On Saturday morning the launch reached Sadarghat of the capital.
The BCL activists disembarked the vessel, without paying any fare as per head Tk200 for per deck-passenger.
They have arrived Dhaka to attend the marriage ceremony of Hussain Fatema-I-Roshni, the only daughter of former AL lawmaker and BCC Mayor late Shawkat Hossain Hiron and present AL lawmaker Jebunnessa Afroj, to be held at Parliament Members’ Club of the National Assembly in the capital on Saturday evening.
Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu was also traveling on the same launch at VVIP cabin 3, launch office and passenger sources said.
Witnesses said the BCL activists were led by Mostak Ahmed, close aide of the industry ministry and Moin Tushar, BCL leader of Barisal BM College.
Mostak Ahmed told the reporter he was not aware of the matter that BCL activists were traveling on launch without giving any fare.
He, however, said: “I will arrange to pay that after talking with the launch owner.”
Moin Tushar claimed that launch owner earlier offered the BCL activists to give free ride for attending the marriage ceremony of the daughter of local lawmaker.
Seeking anonymity, one of the directors of this launch company told the reporter: “We are helpless to lodge any complain to anybody. However, if the ruling party men earlier told us, then we could arrange alternative measures to help them.”
The launch staffs also alleged that the BCL men forced out many passengers from the vessel at Barisal.
