Rajbari Correspondent

On the occasion of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Fitr, a coordination meeting has been organized by the upazila administration to ensure proper management of Daulatdia Ghat in Goalando Upazila of Rajbari District and smooth movement of passengers.

On Monday at around 11 am, the meeting was held in the meeting room of the Upazila Parishad.Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jyoti Bikas Chandra presided over the meeting by Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Mostafa Munshi, Goalando Ghat Police Station OC Pranbandhu Chandra Biswas, Upazila Parishad Vice Chairman Md. Asaduzzaman Chowdhury, Female Vice Chairman Nargis Parveen, BIWTC Daulatdia Ghat branch manager(Trade) Md.Salahuddin, BIWTA Aricha Office Assistant Engineer Nishad Ahmed, Daulatdia UP Chairman Ah Rahman Mondal, Daulatdia Naval Police SI Md. Farid Uddin, District Road Transport and Bus Owners Association executive member Sukumar Bhowmik, Aricha Launch Owners Association office secretary Jewel Rana, transport leaders Tofazzel Hossain, Hasem Khan, three wheeler association and other leaders of various labor organizations related to the ghat spoke.

In the meeting, it was informed that on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, the ghats should be prepared along with increasing the number of ferries and launches on the Daulatdia and Paturia waterways, adequate lighting in the road and ghat area for the convenience of the passengers, wearing the prescribed clothes of Luch collection, increasing the activity of the law and order forces, Eid aheadIn order to increase the vigilance so that the inactivity of the criminals does not increase, during the Eid, gambling, robbers and robbery gangs became active in the ferries plying on the Daulatdia-Paturia route, and the members of the naval police are requested to be more active in this regard.

It was also informed in the meeting that 15 small and big ferries will ply the Daulatdia-Paturia waterway to make the Eid journey smooth. Also, 20 small and big launches will ply along the ferry for passenger crossing.

Increase in activities of gambling gangs in ferries, robberies, extra busses at the ghats and collecting unethical benefits from some leaders and public representatives by setting up counters of private cars, robberies, stop illegal and unfit vehicles, stop collecting extra fares, increase various facilities for the convenience of passengers at the ghats, launch and number of ferries Discussions and decisions were taken on various issues including increasing, increasing strict surveillance of the administration, illegal trawlers, speed boats, ballgate movement in the river.

Also, ferry crossing of all cargo trucks and covered vans except for essential goods and services will be closed for a total of six days before and after Eid to facilitate the upcoming Eid journey. Apart from this, movement of sand carrying bulkheads in Padma River will be stopped from April 6 to April 16 and various decisions have been taken including deployment of sufficient number of law enforcement personnel.

The officer-in-charge of Goalando Ghat police station said that it is illegal to collect any kind of toll or levy from vehicles that go directly to the ghat using the highway or get on the ferry. If the terminal is not used for at least 6 hours, there is no terminal charge. I have received complaints about this before. The concerned have been instructed to stop collecting such tolls. If you don't comply, strict legal action will be taken.

Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Mustafa Munshi Ghat requested all concerned to fulfill their respective responsibilities. He appealed to all concerned to ensure that the people back home can celebrate Eid without any disturbance and that passengers should not be harassed at the ghats.

Upazila Executive Officer Jyoti Bikas Chandra said, this year, proper arrangements will be made for people who are homebound to reach their homes on Eid without any suffering. All preparations are being made to avoid any kind of chaos.

He also said that the upazila administration will run a mobile court for passenger harassment and fare monitoring at Daulatdia Ghat. Even in order to ensure the safety of passengers, sufficient number of law and order force members will be deployed at important places including the ghat area.