Dhaka, May 23 -- The Ministry of Shipping on Saturday issued a series of emergency directives to ensure safe and smooth movement of passengers on inland waterways during the Eid-ul-Azha travel rush, banning cargo transport on passenger vessels and halting all bulkhead movement across key river routes.

Under the directives, all passenger vessels departing Sadarghat will be prohibited from carrying heavy goods for five days before Eid, while vessels bound for Sadarghat from other river ports will face the same restriction for five days after the holiday. All bulkhead movement on waterways will remain suspended round-the-clock from May 23 to June 2, UNB reports.

In addition, regular trucks and covered vans will be barred from ferry crossin...