Around 50 kilometres of waterway on Dhaka-Barisal route is risky due to narrowness of a river, one of its sharp curves, hidden islands and inadequate signal lights demarcating the danger zones, said BIWTA officials and crewmen.

As a result, accidents often occur at the portion from Bhashanchar in Mehendiganj upazila to Barisal launch terminal, said the masters.

So, a tension is growing up as a large number of vessels will have to pass through the 50km portion during Eid.

Thousands of passengers of the southern areas will use the route to reach their destinations.

On June 13 night, a launch, MV Tashrif 1, collided with an oil tanker at Charbaria point at the portion, injuring 12 people, naval sources said.

In another incident on April 23, a water bus, MV Green Line, hit a stone-laden cargo at the same place, capsizing the cargo. The other vessel also got damaged, said sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Another launch, MV Surovi-7, collided with an oncoming steamer, PS Masud, there during Eid-ul-Fitr last year, killing seven passengers and injuring 15 others, said the sources.

Some drivers said many islands cannot be identified due to a lack of signal lights, causing accidents.

The Charbaria point is more risky due to narrowness of the river Kirtonkhola, said Jahangir Hossain, an operator of a launch, Parabat.

He added that there is no mechanism at any vessel to detect hidden islands.

The 50km waterway remains busy as the vessels -- both the passenger and goods carrying ones -- use it always, said Hafeezur Rahman, master of a launch, Surovi.

When asked about ensuring safe Eid journey, BIWTA officials said special services will start today and they have taken necessary steps in this regard.

They asked all the goods-laden vessels, including tankers and cargos, not to use the 50km risky portion from today to September 8, said Azmol Huda, a deputy director of BIWTA, Barisal.

Besides, the operators of the passenger vessels were asked to drive slowly and carefully while passing through the risky portion, he said.

To monitor the situation, BIWTA people will be present there, he added.