Special service on Dhaka-Barisal route with faulty vessels

The BIWTC is launching the special service with four 50 to 60 year-old vessels.
The state-run Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) will start a special service on the Dhaka-Barisal route from today with four faulty vessels.
 The BIWTC is launching the special service with four 50 to 60 year-old vessels, having records of often disrupting journeys midway due to technical glitches.   
 BIWTC peddle-wheel steamers PS Lepcha, PS Mahsud, PS Turn, and screw-wheel motor vessel MV Sela will carry passengers to their respective destinations via the districts of Chandpur, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur and Bagerhat.
 Barisal and Narayanganj BIWTC stations have been asked  to provide special tug boats, piloting services and be prepared to face any emergency calls, said Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general manager of BIWTC Barisal station, when asked about how they plan to keep the trips smooth with unfit vessels.  
He added that they did not have any alternatives nut to start the service with the faulty vessels.
 The special service will be operated from August 6 to 10 before Eid and from August 13 to 20 after Eid.
Every day at least one regular and one special vessel will be launched for home-bound passengers before Eid, said Nurul Alam Akon, deputy general manager (commercial, passenger and ferry services) of BIWTC.
 Under this schedule PS Mahsud will leave Barisal for Dhaka at 5pm today (Tuesday), said Gopal Chandra Majumdar, assistant general manager of BIWTC Barisal station.
 According to the schedule, PS Mahsud will sail the route on August 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13 from Barisal and on 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11  from Dhaka.  PS Turn on August 8, 11 and 14, from Barisal and on 6, 9 and 12 from Dhaka. PS Lepcha on August 9 and 12 from Barisal and 7 & 10 from Dhaka. MV Sela on August 7, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 from Barisal and 5 & 8 from Dhaka.
 Eight sea trucks of BIWTC will connect 11 stations of coastal routes under Barisal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Noakhali districts.
 Three coastal ships MV Abdul Matin, MV Monirul Huq, MV Baro Awlia will have regular and Eid special services to connect different destinations like Hatiya, Sandwip, and Chittagong.
 Additional ferry trips will also be activated on Paturia-Daulatdia, Mawa-Charjanajat, Chandpur-Shariatpur, Bhola-Lakshmipur and Laharhat-Veduria river routes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, BIWTC sources added.
Source: Dhaka Tribune