Syed Shemul Parvez :
Every day thousands of passengers coming and leaving the capital city by water vessels, and that is why, the waterways have become the most important c communication between Dhaka and the south-western districts including Barisal. But there is no effective fire extinguishing system in the boat to save the passengers in time of need.
Most of the passenger launches and the cargo ships are running with the old technology.
Although it is possible to help the distressed during the danger period with the old equipment, the improved and modern system cannot be ignored. Moreover, the staff has no proper training As a result; the lives of passengers are unsafe.
Marking the fatal fire incident of Abhiyan-10, when asked about the internal monitoring system of the launch, Mohammad Mahabubur Rashid, Chief Engineer, (Ship Surveyor) Ministry of Shipping told the New Nation that before fatal fire incident, Abhiyan-10 launch changed its engines without informing the competent authority. In fact, engine cannot be changed without permission from the ship surveyor department. Simply speaking, whims and ignorance led to the inferno that caused death to over forty-seven passengers in the launch on the water intensified by the cold wave.
Even we have also learnt that most recently, the Abhiyan-10 launch was stuck with the river char( shoals). For this reason, catastrophe might have appeared on that fatal night.
However, after the fatal fire incident, leaders of the launch owners’ association said, they would take steps to install modern systems and to impart proper training to the firefighting officials and the workers.
When asked about the monitoring system of engines and others steps after the fatal incident of Abhiyan-10, owner of the largest water vessels of Sadarghat Parabat-18 launch Sahidul Islam Buiyan told the New Nation, serious panic has been chasing them! We are being victim day by day.
Just think about Abhiyan-10 incident? Was it really incident? I don’t think so ! it was just a sabotage! Otherwise how it was going on for hours during inferno? So I have nothing to say, said Sahidul Islam Buiyan .
The first class master of MV Sundarban-10 launch of Barisal-Dhaka route Md Mujibur Rahman, demanded modern technology to save the lives of passengers and boat workers.
If there is modern technology, it will be possible to tamel the fire of the ship, said Shamim Ahmed, the first class master of the same route MV Parabat-11 launch.
In this regard, the Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Commodore Golam Sadeq said, ‘All ships have modern fire extinguishing system. It is mandatory for all ships to have firefighting equipment and trainedworkers. If anyone violates the rules, action will be taken against them according to the rules.
With reference to the inferno that took lives of about fifty ill-fatted passengers and the negligence of the officials and the staff of the launch, the chairman of the company said, “The Ministry of Shipping is investigating the incident.
After the fair investigation, justice will follow.
