Illegal plying of vessels stops in Meghna estuary

This was confirmed by sources in Barisal district administration, BIWTC, Barisal port and Launch Owners Association on Sunday.

A team from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and port officials is maintaining vigilance so that such launches can not ply in the routes which include the route from Ilisha in Bhola to Maju Chowdhrir Hat in Laxmipur.

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Only BIWTC sea trucks and government approved vessels are now plying the routes, they said.

Plying of small launched in the routes are banned during the season of storms from March to October because the Meghna estuary remains very rough.

Only sea trucks and big launched are allowed in the routes during the period.

But the vessels owners ignored the ban.

The Daily Star on Thursday published a report which said such small launches including two owned by the state minister for religious affairs were plying the Bhola-Laxmipur route.