Woes of people returning to workplaces after Eid
NECESSITY KNOWS NO LAW: Oblivious of a few launch capsize tragedies in the recent past, passengers bound for workplaces after the Eid holidays add to the risk of already overloaded launches at Barisal terminal yesterday. Photo: STAR
Passengers returning to their workplaces after the Eid holidays are undergoing immense sufferings as no ticket is available at the booking offices in Barisal launch terminal. During a visit to the terminal yesterday morning, this correspondent found that all the usable space of the launches had been filled with the Dhaka-bound passengers although the water transports were scheduled to depart at night. In the evening, passengers from the over-crowded terminal were seen getting into the launches with high risk, ignoring the request of the launch staff and BIWTA authorities. Abdus Sattar, who was able to manage a space on a water tank of a launch, said he had come to Barisal to observe the Eid with his family but for the return journey to the workplace, he failed to manage a single cabin even after offering additional money. "I will have to join the work tomorrow as my Eid leave has ended. There is no alternative way for me as launch journey is cheap," said Anwara Begum, who works in a garments factory in Dhaka. "During the last two days, about 50 thousand passengers left Barisal launch terminal for Dhaka. Eleven triple-decker launches are plying Barisal-Dhaka route with double trips daily but it is impossible to manage the large number of passengers. Launches plying this route has capacity to carry 750 to 1240 passengers each. Despite trying our best to maintain the fixed, we have failed due to demand of passengers. The situation will continue for at least four days more," said Syedur Rahman Rintu, vice president of launch owners association. Gopal Krisna Majumder, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, said the registration for booking of first and second class passengers cabins of the steamers scheduled to ply on special service was completed earlier as Eid passengers collected their tickets after it was confirmed from Dhaka and Khulna 15 days ago. Several passengers however alleged that tickets of special launch services for the Eid are still available in the black market. Passengers had to pay 40 to 60 per cent additional money for advance tickets while it is 80 per cent more for tickets in black market to travel by the water transports. They said influential black marketers make a 'ticket syndicate' with the connivance of a section of booking office staff, launch staff and 'terminal leaders' through managing the terminal police. Launch owners association leader Syedur Rahman Rintu however said that they have no knowledge of black marketing of tickets and they did not increase the fare during the Eid time this year.
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