BARISAL: Ahead of stormy season, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) banned small vessels plying around 3,000 km of Meghna and Tetulia rivers in Bhola and Patuakhali district for seven months.

The authority imposed the ban, which will remain active from March 15 to October 15, to avoid accidents in country’s southern coasts.

The ‘danger zone’ routes are Elisha-Mozu Chowdhurir Haat, Char Alexander-Daulatkhan, Char Alexandar-Mirzakalu, Char Alexandar-Aslampur, Manpura-Tajumuddin, Manpura-Shashibhushan, Dasmina-Char Kalmi of the Meghna River and Dasmina-Char Mantaj of Meghna and Tetulia rivers.

Deputy director Abul Bashar Majumder of Barisal River Port Security and Traffic Management Department of BIWTA said some points of the two rivers become risky during rainy season. So, the authority imposed the ban to avoid accidents.

They also suspended the schedule of 14 launches to ply in the risky routes as they had no valid license from Shipping Department, he added.

However, the authority has prepared for plying sea-truck in the routes.

BDST: 1247 HRS, MAR 16, 2015