Extortion checked: minister

Adequate measures are in place to ensure people crossing rivers ahead of Eid are not subjected to extortion, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan has said.

“We have planned several measures for the security of home-bound passengers,” he said at the Chandpur launch terminal on Sunday.

He claimed passenger problems had been considerably eased for Eid travel this year.

Helicopters and patrol vessels run by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) would keep a watch over passenger safety, said Khan.