The Ministry of Shipping on Saturday issued a series of emergency directives to ensure safe and smooth movement of passengers on inland waterways during the Eid-ul-Azha travel rush, banning cargo transport on passenger vessels and halting all bulkhead movement across key river routes.

Under the directives, all passenger vessels departing Sadarghat will be prohibited from carrying heavy goods for five days before Eid, while vessels bound for Sadarghat from other river ports will face the same restriction for five days after the holiday. All bulkhead movement on waterways will remain suspended round-the-clock from May 23 to June 2.

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In addition, regular trucks and covered vans will be barred from ferry crossings from May 25 to May 31, with exceptions only for vehicles carrying essential commodities and perishable goods.

Meanwhile, launch services from Shimuliya Tourist Ghat near Kanchon Bridge and Basila Launch Ghat in Dhaka will begin operating from Sunday on the Shimuliya-Chandpur Eidgaon and Basila-Hakimuddin-Chandpur-Muladi-Galachipa-Barishal-Ilisha routes respectively.

The ministry urged all waterway passengers not to board or disembark from launches via boats or trawlers under any circumstances. Ferry passengers were also advised to exit their buses and cross on foot to prevent accidents.

For emergencies and service-related queries, passengers were directed to contact BIWTA's hotline 16113, national emergency service 999, government information line 333, Fire Service 102, Coast Guard 16111, or River Police at 01769-702215.