Staff Correspondent:

Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday warned that passenger vessels charging fares beyond the fixed rates will face not only fines but also the cancellation of their route permits.

“No passenger vessel would be allowed to charge more than the fixed fare, and a fare chart must be displayed publicly from today,” he said after a preparatory meeting with stakeholders at the secretariat on ensuring safety on waterways ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025.

The adviser said no vessel could leave flouting the designated serial, and the passengers must be charged only the fixed fare.

Besides, carrying excess passengers and picking up passengers from unauthorized spots will not be allowed, he added.

The adviser said law enforcement agencies will monitor these matters, with the navy also providing assistance.

He also instructed the security forces not to conduct unnecessary checks that may cause delays.

“No vessel will be allowed to operate without a valid fitness certificate, and exceeding the speed limit is strictly prohibited,” he added.

Addressing the congestion at Sadarghat, he said that disorder in the area often prevents passengers from boarding their launches even after arriving three hours early.

To mitigate this, illegal vehicles will be removed using wreckers if necessary.

He also said the decisions will take effect from the 15th of Ramadan and speedboats will not operate at night, and bulkheads (sand-carrying vessels) will be prohibited from navigating five days before and after Eid.

Besides, buses will not be allowed to board ferries with passengers.

Passengers must disembark before boarding the ferry, he added.