Staff Reporter :
At least 153 people were killed and 84 injured in 106 waterway accidents in last six months, two non-government organisations said on Saturday.
Besides, 22 people went missing in those accidents — between January and June this year, according to National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads & Railways (NCPSRR) and Green Club of Bangladesh.
The number of such accidents has increased in last six months compared to the same period last year, they added.
In total, 71 people were killed in 76 accidents between January and June last year, they said.
The two organisations jointly prepared the report on the basis of news of 24 national and 10 regional dailies and nine online news portals, says a press release.
In six months, the highest 59 people were killed in 26 accidents in June, and of them, at least 34 died after Mayur-2 hit and sank relatively small launch Morning Bird in Buriganga on June 29.
Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of NCPSRR, said in the press release that although the number of launch accidents has reduced lately, accidents involving trawlers and other small vessels are still happening mainly due to lack of proper monitoring, huge number of illegal vessels and unskilled masters and drivers.
