ZCZC
BSS-30
BIWTA-LAUNCH-TICKET
Sale of advance tickets of launch cabins begins tomorrow
DHAKA, May 19, 2019 (BSS) – The sale of advance tickets of launch cabins on Dhaka-Barishal route and other river routes will begin tomorrow on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr, officials say.
“About 30 percent advance tickets of launch cabins will be sold online, while 70 percent tickets through counters installed by launch authorities,” Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman Commodore M Mahbub-ul Islam told BSS after a meeting today.
The BIWTA and private launch owners held a meeting in the capital and decided to sell advance tickets of launch cabins on different routes from tomorrow.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Pranay Kanti Biswas said five ships of the BIWTC will run on Dhaka-Barishal route on the occasion of Eid, while three ships on Chattogram-Hatiya-Barishal route.
He said anyone can buy the tickets of BIWTC ships any time as private sector mainly controls the passenger transportation.
But, launch owners said after fixing the date of the sale of advance launch tickets, they will now sell tickets through online and installing counters at ghats.
They said many launch authorities have already started the sale of advance tickets of cabins.
The officials said the 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 there are 225 private launches and these launches move on 43 river routes of the country from Sadarghat, Dhaka.
Kabir 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.
He 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.
The Shipping Ministry will form necessary vigilance teams to monitor the overall situation of waterway sector during Eid-ul-Fitr, the officials said.
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.
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