At least 40 people died and over 150 others were injured on early Friday as a packed three-decked launch carrying around 500 passengers caught fire on the Sugandha River in southern Jhalokati district, 250 kilometres from capital Dhaka, in the latest inland water transport tragedy that hit the nation. The fire broke out when the passengers were asleep in the winter night with the windows covered with curtains. The administration including the fire service and civil defence say they would be able to ascertain the cause of the fire after the completion of investigations that have been ordered at the district and the national levels. Unofficial sources have given two versions about
the cause of the fire which either a) broke out in the engine room of the vessel or b) originated from the explosion of an LPG cylinder at a tea stall on its second deck. The Barguna-bound MV Abhijan-10 started its voyage from Dhaka. Police and fire service officials said that scores of passengers were missing as many of them jumped into the river out of panic to save life.
Record suggests 310 listed passengers were travelling in the launch, but witnesses and rescuers assume that the actual number of passengers was about 500. As soon as the news of the fire spread, dark shadows crept into the minds of the passengers’ families who live in Dhaka and Barguna. Their fear of loss became real after they arrived at the scene and had to identify their loved ones on the spot or at the Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue. In June last year, a launch carrying over 100 passengers capsized in the Buriganga River after it was hit from behind by another large vessel, killing at least 32 people. Again like in the past, three separate investigation committees have been launched to ascertain the causes of the predawn fire in the launch. The Ministry of Shipping yesterday formed a seven-member probe committee headed by the joint secretary of the ministry to investigate the fire incident and was asked to submit its report within three working days. Besides, the BIWTA formed a six-member committee while Jhalakathi district administration set up a five-member team in this regard.
Despite being an important part of the economy, inland water transport is not being operated in a safe way in the country. Every year significant numbers of accidents occur in the inland waterways. As a result, a lot of people are being killed, getting injured or being reported as missing. Different media reports say, more than 5,407 people died in 604 river accidents in the last four decades. Yesterday’s horrific fire that burnt everything inside the launch MV Abhijan-10 added a new dimension to accidents on Bangladesh’s waterways. Fire of such a scale in a launch was unheard of before. Inland water transports ferry passengers and cargo to one-third of Bangladesh but allegations are that these vessels are often operated by unskilled operators. Safety precautions also remain inadequate due to infrequent inspections. The authorities must fix the responsibility for the fire and punish those who failed to take safety precautions on the vessel that carried as many as 500 passengers. Officials responsible for failure to stop overloading and check against safety of passengers must be held accountable. But the big question is who will bell the cat.
People are sick of uncaring deaths, endless corruption and no government system.
