Social distancing not maintained as launch service resumes in Pirojpur

Social distancing was not maintained in the launches, which left Pirojpur for Dhaka on Sunday.

Parabat-14 and Morning sun-9 left Hularhat terminal being packed with huge passengers.

Some passengers booked the cabins of the launches and some were seen renting the master cabins. A huge number of passengers packed the decks of the water vehicles.

However, police and the launch terminal authorities repeatedly warned the passengers about maintaining social distance by announcing the safety guidelines through loudspeakers. But the passengers did not pay any heed to that.

Lessee of Hularhat terminal Moznu Talukder said, "There are huge numbers of passengers as only two launches move in rotation. At least five launches are needed on Hularhat-Dhaka and Dhaka-Bhandaria routes. Otherwise, it will not be possible to handle the pressure of the passengers."

Police Superintendent of Pirojpur Hayatul Islam Khan said he would talk to the authorities concerned so that the number of launches increases on the route.

Water vehicles have resumed carrying passengers to different destinations through 42 routes across the country.