Staff Reporter :
There is no unfit and unregistered river vessel in the country, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the Parliament on Tuesday.
“While the Department of Shipping issues fitness certificates and the BIWTA provides route permit and set timetable to the owners of water vessels, there is no scope to ply unfit and unregistered water vessels,” he said while replying to a starred question from Begum Umme Razia Kajal (women seat-43).
He, however, said some unregistered sand laden and passenger lighter-water vessels ply in different remote areas of the country.
“Considering people’s interest, the government is not going to take any action to to stop plying of such unregistered lighter-water vessels right now. But these vessels will be brought to book immediately,” he said.
Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Golam Dastagir Gazi, Shajahan Khan said a total of 10,700 different kinds of registered water vessels are now plying across the country.
According to a BIETA source, 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 certificates.
Professor Shamsul Hoque, a BUET teacher and Transportation and Safety expert said the minister’s such statement in the parliament will encourage the owners to ply unfit and unregistered water vessels.
“If the water vessels, which don’t have registration and fitness, ply during Eid- vacation will put the passengers at great risk. Besides, this time Eid will be celebrated during the full monsoon,” he said.
He also demanded of the government to go for tough action against the movement of unfit river vessels ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr to avert accidents on the river routes.
“Instead of giving such statement, the government will have to take adequate measures to stop plying of unfit vessels, especially the passenger launches, to avert accident on river routes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) placed a 10-point recommendation to keep the journey safe and smooth on waterways for homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The committee, in a letter to the Shipping Secretary, conveyed the recommendations that include strengthening mobile-court drives for safe and smooth journey.
It suggested the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to halt the movement of all types of launches having faulty designs, unregistered and the vessels which are not surveyed to verify their fitness.
The committee sought stern actions through conducting regular drives against drivers, masters and owners who will violate rules.
It also suggested formation of adequate number of mobile courts and stopping the issuance of survey certificates to the date-expired launches 15 days ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
The committee urged the authorities to set up CCTVs in all launch terminals with adequate security forces to ensure safety for homebound passengers.
At least 20,508 people were killed in 2,572 accidents and movable assets equivalent to Tk 3,417.20 crore destroyed in waterway accidents in the last 50 years across the country.
There is no unfit and unregistered river vessel in the country, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan told the Parliament on Tuesday.
“While the Department of Shipping issues fitness certificates and the BIWTA provides route permit and set timetable to the owners of water vessels, there is no scope to ply unfit and unregistered water vessels,” he said while replying to a starred question from Begum Umme Razia Kajal (women seat-43).
He, however, said some unregistered sand laden and passenger lighter-water vessels ply in different remote areas of the country.
“Considering people’s interest, the government is not going to take any action to to stop plying of such unregistered lighter-water vessels right now. But these vessels will be brought to book immediately,” he said.
Replying to another question from ruling party lawmaker Golam Dastagir Gazi, Shajahan Khan said a total of 10,700 different kinds of registered water vessels are now plying across the country.
According to a BIETA source, 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 certificates.
Professor Shamsul Hoque, a BUET teacher and Transportation and Safety expert said the minister’s such statement in the parliament will encourage the owners to ply unfit and unregistered water vessels.
“If the water vessels, which don’t have registration and fitness, ply during Eid- vacation will put the passengers at great risk. Besides, this time Eid will be celebrated during the full monsoon,” he said.
He also demanded of the government to go for tough action against the movement of unfit river vessels ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr to avert accidents on the river routes.
“Instead of giving such statement, the government will have to take adequate measures to stop plying of unfit vessels, especially the passenger launches, to avert accident on river routes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) placed a 10-point recommendation to keep the journey safe and smooth on waterways for homebound people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The committee, in a letter to the Shipping Secretary, conveyed the recommendations that include strengthening mobile-court drives for safe and smooth journey.
It suggested the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to halt the movement of all types of launches having faulty designs, unregistered and the vessels which are not surveyed to verify their fitness.
The committee sought stern actions through conducting regular drives against drivers, masters and owners who will violate rules.
It also suggested formation of adequate number of mobile courts and stopping the issuance of survey certificates to the date-expired launches 15 days ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
The committee urged the authorities to set up CCTVs in all launch terminals with adequate security forces to ensure safety for homebound passengers.
At least 20,508 people were killed in 2,572 accidents and movable assets equivalent to Tk 3,417.20 crore destroyed in waterway accidents in the last 50 years across the country.
