DHAKA, Jan 18, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today reiterated his ministry’s strong action against passengers’ harassment in Sadarghat launch terminal area here.

"What we are saying, Sadarghat will remain primp . . . Passengers harassment must be stopped," he told the leaders of Shipping Reporters Forum, Bangladesh (SRFB) while they paid a courtesy call on the new state minister at the Bangladesh Secretariat here today.

The state minister added: “When I visited Sadarghat, I gave away all the shops. But I have been receiving information for the last few days that the harassment of passengers has started again at a worse level.”

He must visit Sadarghat, the state minister said, without informing anybody. A certain quarter has started doing this taking advantage of recent political conflicts, Khalid mentioned.

Khalid Mahmud categorically said, “The authorities concerned will take strong action . . . Sadarghat must be freed from all sorts of harassments.”

Referring to different development activities undertaken by the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said various projects were taken to develop the coastal areas --Sandwip and Kutubdia – which remain separated from main land while the government is especially thinking about Kutubdia.

About the development of waterways around Dhaka, Khalid said, the Prime Minister is very serious about the beautification of the river banks around Dhaka and its surroundings as well.

Emphasizing the importance of river protection awareness, he said, “There are committees in every district and upazila. The river protection committee has been instructed to form committees in all districts.”

SRFB President Kazi Emad Uddin Jebel and General Secretary Afrin Jahan, among others, were present there.