No hike on launch fare, legal action if owners charge extra fare: Shipping Minister
Dhaka, Aug 19 (UNB) - The government will make all arrangements to ensure safe and hassle-free journey for the homebound launch passengers of south and southwestern districts before Eid-ul-Fitr, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said on Thursday.
“There won’t be any increase on existing launch fares. Legal action will be taken if any motor launch owner charges excess fare from the passengers,” he told journalists after a meeting with the launch
owners and concerned officials at his office on Thursday.
The Shipping Minister said no motor launch would be allowed to carry passengers beyond its capacity and it would be monitored strictly.
“No passenger will be allowed on the rooftop of any launch…BIWTC will operate special launch to carry additional passengers,” he said adding that the government would take all steps to avert accidents.
Shahjahan Khan informed that a committee in coordination with the ministry would be formed to monitor the operating launches.
He said huge pressure is usually seen in ferry ghats during the Eid festival. “We’ll deploy four wreckers to quickly relocate any vehicle that gets stuck in the ferry ghat, which is a common sight.”
In the meeting, the Shipping Minister directed the concerned officials to strengthen Coast Guard patrol on the river routes immediately before and after Eid to ensure passenger-safety.
The meeting also decided to request the Power Ministry to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all paltoons including at Sadarghat.
Meanwhile, the route from Jagannath College to Sadarghat would be made one way for few days for Eid in a bid to avert traffic congestion and special teams would be deployed in Sadarghat area to
give directions to the passengers.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry Golam Kibria Tipu, Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman Abdul Malek Mia, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) chairman Golam Mostafa Kamal, Mercantile Marine Department director general Bazlur Rahman, and Launch-Owners Association president KM Mahmudur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.
“There won’t be any increase on existing launch fares. Legal action will be taken if any motor launch owner charges excess fare from the passengers,” he told journalists after a meeting with the launch
owners and concerned officials at his office on Thursday.
The Shipping Minister said no motor launch would be allowed to carry passengers beyond its capacity and it would be monitored strictly.
“No passenger will be allowed on the rooftop of any launch…BIWTC will operate special launch to carry additional passengers,” he said adding that the government would take all steps to avert accidents.
Shahjahan Khan informed that a committee in coordination with the ministry would be formed to monitor the operating launches.
He said huge pressure is usually seen in ferry ghats during the Eid festival. “We’ll deploy four wreckers to quickly relocate any vehicle that gets stuck in the ferry ghat, which is a common sight.”
In the meeting, the Shipping Minister directed the concerned officials to strengthen Coast Guard patrol on the river routes immediately before and after Eid to ensure passenger-safety.
The meeting also decided to request the Power Ministry to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all paltoons including at Sadarghat.
Meanwhile, the route from Jagannath College to Sadarghat would be made one way for few days for Eid in a bid to avert traffic congestion and special teams would be deployed in Sadarghat area to
give directions to the passengers.
Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Shipping Ministry Golam Kibria Tipu, Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman Abdul Malek Mia, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) chairman Golam Mostafa Kamal, Mercantile Marine Department director general Bazlur Rahman, and Launch-Owners Association president KM Mahmudur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.
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