A passenger launch on Sunday capsized in Shitalakkhya River when a large cargo vessel hit, leaving eight passengers killed and many missing. Like the previous accidents, the shipping ministry formed a three-member committee to investigate the cause of the mishap. It has been asked to submit a report within three working days. And we know the investigation report will propose many suggestions that have already been made by many such probe bodies, formed after every incident. An innocent might ask why such committees are formed? Is it for diverting people’s attention and shouldering the responsibilities of the authorities to others or to ensure safe vessel management?
In January this year, this newspaper also ran an editorial column seeking government attention to make waterway communication safe by enforcing strong management and smart vessels. Then 10 people went missing after a trawler capsized in the Dhaleshwari River off the coast of Narayanganj’s Sadar upazila following a collision with a launch. On December 24, 38 people died in a deadly fire that swept through a launch on the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi. Then the BIWTA also formed a six-member committee to probe the incident.
Worldwide, river transport is considered to be the safest mode of communication. No wonder one gets confused when one sees the opposite scenario here. The main causes of launch disasters in our country leading to such colossal loss of life and property have been identified and highlighted by different quarters many times. These are — faulty design, structural weakness, lack of adequate safety measures, lack of adequate supervision by a competent authority during the construction period, absence of the qualified crew, weakness in inspection procedures, obtaining of fitness certificate through unfair means, overloading, disregard to the weather forecast, and negligence in duties by the ship’s crew.
The sinking of the vessel was because of its faulty design and structural failure of its hull. Like many such launch capsizes, weather on Sunday was fine. The river was calm. Even if the vessel had collided with the other for one reason or another, it would not have sunk instantly if it were built in accordance with the standard shipbuilding practice. Even if it had sunk, the loss of life would have been minimal had the vessel complied with standard safety requirements? May be our words pouring into the dumb ears. Is there anybody listening to the crying of the young boy who lost his mother?
