Tourists barred from Padma Bridge pillar area on the river after 6pm at Mawa end in Munshiganj

The upazila administration has decided to bar tourists from roaming on the river around pillars 3, 4 and 5 of the Padma Bridge at the Mawa end in Lauhajang upazila of Munshiganj after 6pm. The decision has been taken to ensure security in the area.

Warning signboards will also be put up at important points in the area to prevent accidents, the administration said.

Lauhajang Upazila Nirbahi Officer, UNO Farzana Boby Mitu, announced the decisions on Wednesday, 28 October, after inspecting Shimulia Ghat and the bridge's pillar area from the afternoon into the night.

UNO Farzana Boby Mitu said the overall situation at Shimulia Ghat, tourists' movement on the river, vessel safety and conditions around the Padma Bridge pillars were observed during the inspection.

She added that emphasis was placed on strengthening security measures, maintaining discipline in the ghat area and increasing coordination among the agencies concerned, in order to avoid unwanted accidents on the river.

Warning signboards will be installed to ensure tourists can move safely around the bridge pillars, the UNO said, and necessary measures will be taken so that tourists cannot roam on the river after 6pm.

Present during the inspection were Lauhajang LGED officer Shantanu Ghosh Sagar, BIWTA officer Neyaz Mohammad Khan, Naval Police Inspector Md Malek Khosru, Tourist Police Inspector Md Delwar Hossain and Shimulia trawler ghat lessee Md Kawsar.

Officials and members of the upazila administration, Naval Police, Tourist Police and BIWTA were also present during the inspection.