BIWTC special services ease passengers' woes

But sufferings of passengers are mounting on short-distance and local routes as they have to avail risky boat journey, many of them said.

The strike by launch owners in south-western districts entered its fifth day yesterday.

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BIWTC (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation) is now earning hefty profits by operating the special services with less facilities for passengers, sources in the organisation said.

They said BIWTC ferry Birsrestho Mohiuddin Jahangir carried over 3000 passengers in a trip to and from Dhaka, earning about Tk 80,000.

Another ferry Kakoli also earned a good profit. But passengers complained of lack of drinking water and sanitation facilities and security problems on board the ferries. As the vessels have no roof, the journey is very tedious in long route, they said.

BIWTC authorities said Rocket steamer service on Dhaka-Chandpur-Barisal-Khulna route will continue.

BIWTC is also operating Seatruck services on Bhola-Barisal in view of the strike.