The passengers on country's river routes did not face any accident during the recent Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja holidays because of the guidance and strict monitoring of relevant agencies under the shipping ministry.
"We have been able to ensure the highest security for passengers on river routes during the Eid and Puja holidays," Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan on Thursday said.
He said the officials were told beforehand that no negligence would be tolerated. Besides, mobile courts worked across the country to check overloading and stop plying unfit vessels, he added.
It is possible to avert accident by maintaining caution, the minister observed.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Director Shafiqul Haq said they cancelled permits of four launches before the Eid and issued show cause notices on five more vessels as part of the move to prevent accidents on river routes.
Shipping Department Executive Magistrate M Saiful Hassan said a number of launches were fined on the charges of overloading and damaging the terminal of BIWTA during the Eid. A passenger was also fined, he added. He said six launches were ordered to leave Mawa terminal without taking any passenger as they had no route permits.      ?BSS