Launch owners demand resumption of passenger services

Launch owners on Saturday demanded resumption of passenger services from May 24 to cope with the evolving coronavirus situation.

They made the demand in a press conference held at their association’s office in Sadarghat area of Dhaka this noon.

The people in the water transport sector (passenger) are passing through an acute crisis and the sector is on the verge of collapse due to the pandemic of coronavirus Badiuzzaman Bada, vice president of the association said at the press conference.

“The authority should allow us to run our services considering survival of thousands of people in the sector,” he said.

People are seen reluctant in maintaining health guidelines everywhere in the country, he said assuring that they would operate the service by maintaining the health rules to make the government’s efforts in containing the spread of the virus successful.

also placed a six-point demand to the government including waiver of tax, survey fees and others for their survival amid the evolving situation.

Besides while talking to the Business Insider Bangladesh, Sabuj Skikdar, general secretary of Noujan Sromik and Karmochari Union, said around 30,000 people who directly or indirectly engaged in the sector, are passing through an inhuman condition due to the closure of the water transport for passengers.

Echoing the demand, he said the government should allow them to operate their service as most of the workers in the sector are passing their days by taking meal once in a day.