The New Nation reported that 89 people were killed in boat accidents in different river routes of the country in the last four months, meaning that in the coming rainy season the number of accidents and causalities might be multi-fold. It is alleged that two-thirds of the water vessels plying on different river routes across the country do not have registration while many of them are operating without fitness and without trained sailors. As there is enough time till the Eid holidays when commuters show their eagerness to make homebound journeys, the Ministry concerned should start inspections into whether the vessels are fit or not to ply.
Out of around 20,000 different kinds of water vessels, around 8000 have registration though the registration process is faulty and bribe-motivated. There is no regular inspection and survey from the Ministry of Shipping to check the fit and unfit passenger carriers. Meanwhile, with the Eid approaching during monsoon days, there’s a growing fear that unscrupulous launch owners will operate unfit vessels to cash in on the huge rush of passengers, putting numerous lives at risk.
As per law, Ship Surveyors of the Department of Shipping (DoS) issue registration and annual fitness certificates after surveying vessels. No unregistered vessel can get route permit from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). Traffic Inspectors of the BIWTA are responsible for checking the route permit when a vessel anchors at a Port. Apart from passenger carrying vessels, about 66,000 unregistered fishing trawlers are allegedly plying on the waterways across the country where majority of these trawlers are used to carry different contrabands.
According to DoS data, 180 people on an average die every year in accidents in waterways while the average was put at 326 by the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways. Officially, the BIWTA said they are cautious about passengers’ safety but in reality unfit vessels have caused accidents in the past.
The Government must ban unfit vessels in the rainy season to avoid accidents and deploy law enforcers to check the launches so that excessive numbers of passengers could not travel in the launches. But, people’s awareness is necessary as that can save their lives.
