Travellers on deck to enjoy discount fares by10pc
Bangladesh Inland Waterways (passenger carrier's) Association has decided to reduce launch fares by 10 per cent for passengers to travel on the deck ahead of the Eid.
Association President Mahbub Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram announced this at a press conference at its office yesterday.
“We have decided to give the passengers, who will travel on the deck, discount fares considering their sufferings and financial insolvency,” he said.
He said the association has also decided to introduce special launch services from September 6 to deal with the excessive number of passengers.
The association, in this regard, will select launches for special services, design a chart for the owners to monitor the launches, and give necessary directions to the launch drivers for ensuring maximum safety, Mahbub added.
“We are able to transport 30,000 passengers a day. But we have to carry around 1.5 lakhs passengers a day throughout the festival period, which is five times more than the transport capacity,” he said.
He urged the government to take effective steps to remove all barriers to smooth movement of passenger carrying vessels, and to avoid accidents.
Navigability crisis, absence of buoy and lighthouses on the waterways, random plying of unregistered small boats, and scattered fishing nets are some to cause disturbances to launch movement, cited Mahbub.
Terming the ship-breaking industry a potential sector in the country, he alleged that ill people have engaged in conspiracy to annihilate the sector. “The government should take necessary steps to protect the industry.”
Badiuzzaman Badal, senior vice-president of the association; Shabuddin Milon, vice-president; and Golam Kibria Tipu, member of parliamentary standing committee to the shipping ministry, were present among others at the press conference.
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