Four Ansar men to be deployed on every launch from Sunday

As part of the government decision to enhance security on naval routes to ensure safe and smooth travel of the homebound 
passengers by waterways ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, four Ansar men 
will be deployed on each of the launches from tomorrow (Sunday). 

As per the decision of the Shipping Ministry meeting, four Ansar members will be deployed on each of launches from tomorrow (15th Ramadan or March 16) to 
two days after the Eid alongside regular and special patrols by the law enforcement agencies, including the Navy in waterways and launch terminals, BSS reports.

For this, the launch owners will have to bear the duty allowances fixed by the government. 

There will be regular patrols by the Navy, Police, RAB, Naval Police and Coast Guard to prevent robbery, extortion and harassment and intimidation of workers and passengers in Narayanganj, Gazaria,Munshiganj, Chandpur and Barishal-Bhola waterways and other waterways across the country as well.

In a meeting on March 6, the Ministry of Shipping decided to take numerous 
measures that include strengthening security in waterways as the shipping 
owners present in the meeting called for giving special importance on the security issue.

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Rtd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain in the meeting 
highlighted various steps taken to ensure the safety of homebound passengers 
by waterways during the holy Eid-ul-Fitr. 

He said necessary instructions have been given to the relevant authorities in this regard.

The Ministry of Shipping has already instructed to take strict action against 
charging more than the permitted fare and carrying more passengers on launches during this Eid-ul-Fitr. 

During the same period, Ansar and community police will be deployed along 
with traffic police to keep the Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka free of hawkers. 

The concerned departments will take steps to keep the road leading to Terminal free from traffic jams and hawkers for passenger safety. 

To make the Eid journey safe, comfortable and enjoyable, the government has planned some other measures that included formation of vigilance teams in 
each "Ghat" (terminal) area in coordination with the security forces and implementation of roster duty based on jetty gates and pontoons of each river port, terminal and "Ghat" point.

Some measures will also be taken to aware passengers alongside monitoring the overall situation from the watchtower at Dhaka River Port (Sadarghat). 

These include, stopping speed boat operations at night and ensuring that 
speed boat passengers wear life jackets during the day, stopping bulkhead 
(sand-carrying ships) from operating on inland waterways day and night for 
five days after Eid from 15th Ramadan, and stopping sand extraction from Balumahal.

Before Eid, and for the next three days, ferry crossings for general trucks and covered vans, except for trucks carrying essential and perishable goods, will be closed.