Ferry ghat officials removed for overcharging Eid travellers

State Minister for Shipping Md. Razib Ahsan has directed strict legal action against those responsible for overcharging passengers and other irregularities at the Paturia-Aricha ferry terminal during this year’s Eid journey.

The state minister issued the directives during a Monday inspection of the ferry and launch terminals, where he reviewed the overall Eid travel situation for homebound passengers on the waterway.

During the visit, Mohammad Emran Hossain, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping and team leader of the ministry-formed vigilance team, confirmed the overcharging after purchasing a ticket himself in disguise as a passenger, reports UNB.

Acting swiftly, an Executive Magistrate from Manikganj district administration conducted a mobile court and fined the lessee responsible for loose ticketing operations Tk 10,000 for the offence.

The state minister also directed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to issue a show-cause notice to the lessee and take legal action as per the terms of the lease agreement, with immediate intimation to the ministry.
In a separate but related development, BIWTC Assistant General Manager (AGM) Abdul Salam was issued an on-the-spot show-cause notice after it was found that an Ansar member posted for security duty at the No. 5 gate ticket counter had been engaged in fare collection activities.
The minister warned that a departmental case would be filed if his response proved unsatisfactory.
The Ansar member concerned and BIWTC Upper Division Assistant Md. Tarek Hossain, who was on counter duty, were immediately withdrawn from their posts.
The ministry has been directed to be informed of all follow-up actions taken against them over the negligence and irregularities.