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Pre-Eid repair rush!


Published : 25 Apr 2022 09:47 PM | Updated : 26 Apr 2022 02:44 PM

Lucky Dockyard at Keraniganj is passing a busy time with launches being repaired to transport homebound people for Eid. 

In some places, painting work is going on, while in others, welding.

A launch operated on Dhaka- Bhola route is docked at the dockyard and is being made brand new through different repairing works. This pre-Eid image is not new to the dockyard, but the difference is that it took at least 21 days to complete the renovation work, but ahead of Eid it now takes only seven days to complete repair work. 

Lucky Dockyard Manager Hazi Borhan Uddin informed the media that vessels that are coming here for renovation work are targeting to get back into operation before Eid. 

For example, he showed a few vessels that came to the dockyard on April 20 and are likely to return to passenger service from April 27. 

The Department of Shipping has approved 222 long-range vessels to operate on the waterways. Besides, there are a few old vessels now going through repairs work at 27 dockyards at Keraniganj. 

Authorities question who will drive the newly added vessels for the Eid vacation, whether they are trained at all and whether they have a driving license. As a result, the people concerned fear more accidents on waterways than ever before. 

Transport experts said that for two years in a row, most people in the city could not go to the village to share the joy of Eid with their loved ones because of the Covid-19. So this time before Eid many people will go home together. As a result, the drivers will naturally cause small and big accidents while taking multiple trips on the buses-launches. On top of this, there is a danger that roads and waterways will become more risky due to unskilled drivers driving faulty vehicles. 

However, Inland Navigation Passenger Transport Corporation director Nazim Uddin, said, “The Department of Shipping did not know how many launches were being repaired at the dockyards and whether they had fitness certificates. But launch owners say there is no chance of operating vessels without fitness.”  

Secretary General of Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association Mozammel Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post that despite the government’s various supervisions, boats, launches, trawlers and speed boats are running without fitness. As it is the month of Baisakh, there are more fears about these ships. On top of this, there is a risk of overloading during Eid journeys.

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