Govt to start e-ticketing at Sadarghat: ministry

The government will introduce e-ticketing system at the city's Sadarghat Launch Terminal, to avoid harassment of waterways passengers and recurrence of accidents.

Top officials of the shipping ministry yesterday informed this at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Presided over by ruling Awami League lawmaker Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam, the meeting was attended by committee members Shajahan Khan, Mazaharul Hoque Prodhan, Ranajit Kumar Roy and Aslam Hossain Sowdagar, among others. 

About the initiative, Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Star that the committee told ministry officials so that e-ticketing system does not create any problems to low-income people.

Talking to this correspondent, former shipping minister and a current member of the parliamentary committee Shajahan Khan said he has asked the ministry to take measures so that no launch can anchor on the other side of Buriganga river, which is a major cause of accidents at Sadarghat area.

"Instead of anchoring launches at the other side of Buriganga, we have asked the respective authorities so that all launches anchor at a safe distance from the Sadarghat terminal," he also said.

Shajahan Khan said he has given a proposal to construct a tunnel under the Buriganga river for thousands of people who have to cross the river every day to and from Dhaka.

He said crossing the Buriganga on boat and movement of launch in the Sadarghat area often cause accidents in the area.