Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on Friday suspended one of its officials after a ferry he operated; hit the Padma Bridge pillar.
At least 20 people were injured when the ferry, named Shah Jajal, hit the pillar on its way to the Shimulia terminal of Munshigonj from Banglabazar in Madaripur.
BIWTC temporarily suspended Abdur Rahman, the ferry in-charge and inland master officer, due to his failure to operate the vessel properly.
Meanwhile, BIWTC has formed a four-member probe committee to investigate the collision of the ferry.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the BIWTC Chairman within three days.
BIWTC Director (commercial) S M Ashikuzzaman has been made the convener of the probe committee.
“The ferry hit pillar No. 17 of the Padma bridge leaving several people injured but
the pillar was largely undamaged,” said Jahangir Alam Khan, a spokesperson of the shipping ministry.
The injured people have taken for treatment to different hospitals near the terminal.
The river had been turbulent since Friday morning and the ferryman lost control of the ferry due to a combination of windy weather and high tides while entering the river, according the passengers of the vessel.
“The collision left a large dent on the front side of the ferry,” said Shafiqul Islam, Assistant General Manager of the BIWTC.
The ferry was carrying at least 33 vehicles and more than 2,000 passengers. The vehicles collided against each other on impact of the incident while many passengers fell on the deck of the ferry.
Later, the in charge regains control of the ferry and managed to guide it to the Shimulia port.
Abdur Rahman, blamed the vessel’s electronic system failure for the incident.
“The ferry could have sunk if the collision occurred below the river’s water level,” he said.
