Advance bookings for launch cabins on the Dhaka–Barishal river route have surged ahead of Eid, with most tickets already sold out as a large number of homebound travellers opt for inland water transport for a more comfortable journey.
All luxury launches operating between Dhaka and Barishal have opened advance cabin bookings for Eid travellers, and operators say nearly all tickets for trips from Dhaka to Barishal have already been reserved.
Passengers were seen crowding launch counters in Barishal to secure tickets, although many said they were able to obtain them without major difficulty.
Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said preparations had been completed to ensure smooth and safe travel for passengers during the Eid holidays.
Since the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the Dhaka–Barishal river route has lost much of its previous importance as many travellers now prefer road transport. Passenger numbers on launches have declined in recent years, changing the once-busy character of the route.
However, the situation changes during major festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, when thousands of people travel to their hometowns. Demand for cabins on luxury launches rises sharply at this time, prompting operators to reopen advance bookings several days before the festival.
Launch operators said almost all cabins for Dhaka-bound services from Barishal during the Eid period were booked within two days of ticket sales opening. They added that around 70 percent of cabin bookings had already been made for launches travelling from Barishal to Dhaka after the Eid holidays.
Zakir Hossain, manager of Sundarban Navigation Company, said sufficient launches had been kept ready to operate between Dhaka and Barishal during the Eid rush.
“If passenger pressure increases, we will arrange additional launches to accommodate travellers,” he said.
Abhijit, manager of the MV Awlad 10 launch, said tickets for journeys up to 16 March had already been sold out.
“Tickets for 18 March are also fully booked, while only a limited number of seats remain available for 19 March,” he added.
Passengers said many travellers prefer river transport because it offers a comparatively peaceful and comfortable journey compared to crowded highways during the holiday rush.
Sohan, a passenger travelling on the Dhaka–Barishal route, said he chose launch travel to avoid the congestion and stress often associated with road journeys during Eid.
“People want a quieter and more comfortable trip, which is why many are coming to buy launch tickets,” he said, adding that tickets were still available when he visited the counter.
Aminul Islam, who came to buy tickets for several members of his family travelling from Dhaka to Barishal, said the start of advance cabin booking eight to ten days before Eid had made the process easier for travellers.
Officials of BIWTA said additional safety measures had been taken to ensure smooth and secure journeys during the Eid holidays. Law enforcement agencies would assist in maintaining order and passenger safety at launch terminals.
Md Asaduzzaman, a BIWTA official in Barishal, said 16 launches operating on the Dhaka–Barishal route were fully prepared to serve passengers during the Eid rush.
He added that special services would be introduced and more launches deployed if passenger pressure increased.
According to BIWTA, around 30 launches are also ready to operate on internal river routes to facilitate travel during the upcoming Eid holidays.
