Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will provide special service to waterway passengers from May 30 aiming to ensure their safe journey during the Eid-ul-Fitr.

“We will get fully prepared from May 30 to ensure safe journey of home goers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr,” joint director of Traffic Management Division of Dhaka River Port Alamgir Kabir told BSS.

He said many people along with their families will start going their village homes from May 30 next, and when launch owners seek support from the BIWTA in this regard, it will provide all-out support to them.

Kabir said about 35 lakh passengers will travel by water vessels in the country’s southern region this year.

Talking to BSS over phone, manager of Daulatdia Ghat of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Shafiqul Islam said movement of goods carrying trucks will be suspended on Paturia- Daulatdia ferry route six days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr and 20 ferries will carry passengers to ensure their safe journey.

Noting that these ferries will be added to the ghat before the pressure of Eid-going passengers and transportation are mounted, he said all six ferries of Daulatdia part will remain active ahead of Eid.

Secretary of Bangladesh Inland Waterway Passenger Transportation Association Siddiqur Rahman Patwari said private launch owners will hold a meeting on May 18 next and they will fix the date of selling advance tickets of launch cabins on Dhaka-Barishal route.

He said a total of 220 launches and six streamers will move on Dhaka-Barishal route and other southern routes during the Eid this year.

Water vessel owners said after fixing the date of sale of advance tickets, they will sell tickets through online and counters.

Officials said the Shipping Ministry will form necessary vigilance teams to monitor the overall situation of waterway sector during Eid-ul-Fitr.

The ministry will carry out mobile courts at ferry and launch ghats ahead of Eid to check realising extra fare from passengers and carrying additional passengers at waters vessels, they said.