Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has announced suspension of launch service from this afternoon to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision of suspending all waterway transports for passengers was taken due to the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, Rafiqul Islam, director (Traffic) of BIWTA, told The Daily Star.

Besides, movement of the 300 cargo vessels on India-Bangladesh route was suspended yesterday, he said.