Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain has issued a stern warning that passenger vessels charging fares beyond the fixed rates will face fines and cancellation of route permits.
“No passenger vessel will be allowed to overcharge, and a fare chart must be publicly displayed starting today,” he said on Thursday after a preparatory meeting with stakeholders at the secretariat to ensure waterway safety ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025.
He emphasized that vessels must adhere to the designated departure sequence, and passengers must only be charged the fixed fare.
Carrying excess passengers or picking up passengers from unauthorized locations will also be strictly prohibited.
Law enforcement agencies will monitor compliance, with navy personnel providing assistance. Unnecessary security checks causing delays will be avoided. Vessels without valid fitness certificates will not be allowed to operate, and speed limits must be strictly followed.
Addressing congestion at Sadarghat, the adviser noted that disorder often prevents passengers from boarding launches even after arriving three hours early.
Illegal vehicles will be removed using wreckers if necessary. From the 15th of Ramadan, additional safety measures will be enforced, including a ban on nighttime speedboat operations and restrictions on bulkheads (sand-carrying vessels) five days before and after Eid.
Buses carrying passengers will not be allowed on ferries, and passengers must disembark before boarding. These measures aim to ensure safe and organized waterway travel during the Eid rush.
