Illegal plying of small and old launches in risky routes in the Meghna estuary has been stopped.

This was confirmed by sources in Barisal district administration, BIWTC, Barisal port and Launch OwnersAssociation on Sunday.

A team from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and port officials is maintaining vigilance so that such launches can not ply in the routes which include the route from llishain Bhola to Maju Chowdhrir Hat in Laxmipur.

Only BIWTC sea trucks and government approved vessels are now plying the routes, they said.

Plying of small launched in the routes are banned during the season of storms from March to October because the Meghna estuary remains very rough.

Only sea trucks and big launched are allowed in the routes during the period.

But the vessels owners ignored the ban.

The Daily Star on Thursday published a report which said such small launches including two owned by the state minister for religious affairs were plying the Bhola-Laxmipur route.