Dhaka’s Sadarghat launch terminal is seeing an unusually thin rush of Eid holidaymakers this year, allowing passengers to travel home comfortably without facing fare hikes or ticketing hassles.
Vessels on southern routes are departing on schedule with vacant cabin and deck seats. Though holiday-makers are enjoying a hassle-free journey, launch operators are counting losses, attributing the sharp decline in passengers to the Padma Bridge, bad weather, and safety concerns.
Sajib Hossain, a passenger travelling to Barguna, said he had never seen the terminal this empty during the Eid rush. “I managed to get tickets easily and travelling home with my family without any trouble," he said.
Another passenger, Nazma Akter, who was bound for Barishal, recalled how boarding launches with children used to be an ordeal due to overcrowding. This year, she found the environment much better and noted that fares remained unchanged.
But the mood was grim among launch operators. Many pointed out that a large number of travellers heading south have shifted to road transport since the opening of the Padma Bridge. Unfavourable weather and concerns over river safety have further thinned the crowds.
Haji Md Mokhlesur Rahman, supervisor of the Parabat-18 launch, told The Daily Star that many seats are going empty this year.
"The owners are facing financial losses because of the low number of passengers," he said, adding that his launch incurred losses of around Tk 1 lakh yesterday alone due to bad weather and the Padma Bridge keeping passengers away.
To ensure safety, authorities have deployed four Ansar personnel on each launch and installed CCTV cameras across the terminal. Temporary control rooms have also been set up by the police, Rab, Fire Service, and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Mohammad Mobarak Hossain, joint director of BIWTA, told The Daily Star that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure security at the terminal.
"Police, Rab, and Ansar members are on patrol. We are fully prepared to prevent any untoward incidents," he said.
