Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has banned tourist launches in the Sundarbans due to the continuous increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths in Bangladesh .
On Wednesday evening, Khulna river port and transport agency deputy director Abdur Razzak issued a circular announcing the decision to restrict tourist vessels. BIWTA sent a letter to the Tour Operators Association of the Sundarbans (TOAS) in this respect.
The decision to cease tourist launch operations implemet from Thursday till further notice was taken following directions from higher-ups.
Local tour operators and vessel owners claimed that the decision was taken without their input. They are concerned about revenue losses as a result of the restriction during the peak travel season.
Accrding to M Nazmul Azam David, general secretary of the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans, “We are in great trouble. All our vessels have been booked till the end of February. Most tour operators already received advance payment and spent for arranging tour. Now we don’t know what we should do in such a situation.”