Sadarghat launch terminal is teeming with people leaving Dhaka to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families.
Altogether, 50 launches had left the terminal for the southern districts till 1pm on Thursday.
Thousands were still seen waiting for their turn to board a vessel, even as the number of people kept increasing by the hour.
Bangladesh will celebrate Eid on Friday if the Shawwal moon is sighted on Thursday.
But Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Traffic Inspector (TI) Syed Mahfuzur Rahman told bdnews24.com that, for the time being, there were no launches for Rangabali, Kalaiya, Borhan Uddin, Galachipa, Muladi, Khaserhat, Hatia, Daulat Kha, Betua, Char Fashion, Lalmohon, and the two routes to Madaripur from Dhaka.
When asked about the next lot of vessels to these places, he said two had already crossed Chandpur. “I’ve been told the rest had started for Dhaka as well.”
Many with tickets were left with no option but to wait.
Soheli Begum, has a cabin ticket on the Kirthankhola-2 to go to Barisal. But like other launches, the Kirthankhola-2 was not at Sadarghat, forcing her to wait.
BIWTA Inspector Mahmud Hossain said the launch had started for Dhaka from Barisal on Thursday morning. “Passengers will be able to get onboard once it arrives.”
BIWTA has introduced a ‘special service’ from Aug 6 to cope with the passenger load. The additional service will continue for 10 days after the Eid.
Most of the launches were overcrowded. Many were seen getting aboard from mid-river.
BIWTA officials sounded helpless. “No one’s listening to us despite warnings,” an Inspector said.
Traffic Inspector Md Solaiman said around 150 launches ply on Bangladesh’s 39 southern routes.
Source: bdnews24
