Authorities set up a joint central control room at Sadarghat run by BIWTA, the Department of Shipping, Fire Service, River Police, Coast Guard and law enforcement for Eid-ul-Azha travel, BSS reported on 21 May 2026. At least four Ansar members were stationed on every launch from 19 May to 2 June, overloading and rooftop travel were banned on pain of losing route permits, and sand-carrying bulkheads were suspended nationwide from 23 May to 2 June.
Some launches ran from Basila and Shimulia to ease pressure on Sadarghat, and mobile courts targeted fares above approved rates. State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan said the government had taken decisions to ensure uninterrupted waterway travel. Emergency numbers included 16113 for BIWTA and 16111 for the Coast Guard.
On Eid eve, 27 May, Sadarghat was far less crowded than usual, the Dhaka Tribune reported, as many travellers had left earlier in the week or chose road travel because of stormy weather. A BIWTA official said 49 launches had left by 2pm with 36 more due by 10pm, though passengers for Betua, Hatiya and Monpura waited for late-running launches.
Source
- BSS: “Coordinated preparations taken for safe Eid travel on waterways” (21 May 2026)
- Dhaka Tribune: “Sadarghat remains uncrowded even on Eid eve” (27 May 2026)
File photo: Sadarghat launch terminal, Dhaka. Photo: Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This article is a summary prepared by Maritime News BD from the report(s) listed above; it was not independently reported by Maritime News BD.
