Naval Police working to ensure safe Eid journeys: Additional IGP

The Naval Police is working to ensure safe journeys for people heading home by waterways during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, said the unit's chief, Additional IGP Kusum Dewan.

He made these remarks at a views-exchange meeting organised at the Naval Police Headquarters at Police Plaza in Gulshan on Wednesday, March 4. The meeting focused on waterway security and proper management of vessel movement.

At the outset of the meeting, the Naval Police presented issues related to maintaining law and order on waterways, preventing accidents, preventing environmental pollution, ticket black-marketing, preventing extra fare collection, and extortion. Discussions were held with representatives of concerned government and private organisations, as well as Superintendents of Police from 11 Naval Police regions who joined online.

Speakers expressed various opinions on ensuring safe waterways. They praised the current activities of the Naval Police and called for their continuation. At the same time, they suggested increasing necessary manpower to further strengthen the unit's operations.

Additional IGP Kusum Dewan said maximum preparations have been taken to make journeys safe and easy for passengers using waterways during Eid. He called for strengthening vigilant monitoring to ensure that no robbers can travel on vessels disguised as passengers.

He also instructed Superintendents of Police of concerned regions to ensure that no one obstructs waterway channels by placing fishing nets.

Representatives from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Passenger Association, Launch Owners Association Bangladesh, Bangladesh Water Vessel Workers Federation, Bangladesh Bulkhead Owners Association, Bangladesh Cargo Vessel Owners Association, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Shipping, along with DIGs, Additional DIGs, SPs and various level officials of Naval Police participated in the meeting both in person and virtually.