Black marketers grab launch tickets

Nasir Uddin Chowdhury: Thousands of homebound people will travel by river routes ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr but the passengers became hostage in the hands of black marketers for tickets.

The tickets for Eid special service in Barisal-Dhaka river route went to the hands of black marketers from every launch counter.

The passengers are looking for tickets but there is no ticket. But, if anyone offers additional money then the black marketers are supplying the desired tickets of regular or special service.

Launch passengers complained that most of the tickets of luxurious launches like Suravi, Sundarban, Kirtankhola went to black marketers. Showing fake names and addresses, the black marketers took tickets from launch authorities.

The launch authorities sold the tickets to black marketers for additional money and the black marketers are now selling the tickets to general passengers in double or triple price.

Sources said that the chief of black marketers named Ledu alias Dulal is controlling the black marketers of launch tickets. Some other brokers named Hasem, Selim, Kabir Jahangir are also involved in the gang.

Following the matter, Barisal Zone Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTC) deputy director Abul Bashar told risingbd.com that all types of actions were taken against black marketers.

If any proof can be found against the mentioned people then legal action will be taken, he added.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 11, 2015/JK Sawpon/Nasim/Augustin Sujan