The government will go for tough actions against the movement of unfit river vessels ahead of theholy Eid-ul-Fitr to avert accidents on the river routes.”A survey is on to identify the unfit river vessels. Following the survey, the department of shipping would take legal actions against plying of unfit launches,” said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan here on Thursday.Talking to BSS, the minister said the ministry of shipping has already sent letters to the concerned department and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to take adequate measures to stop plying of unfit vessels especially the passenger launches to avert accident on river routes. Principal Inspector of the Department of Shipping Shafiqur Rahman said a total of 9,361 registered river vessels have been plying inland river routes.Among those, the number of passenger vessels is 1061, cargo vessels 2,213, ferries 27, oil tankers 260, tug boats 89, speed boats 226, patrol boats 44, dredgers 857 and sand carrying cargos 3,811 and others 776.A senior official of the department of shipping, who preferred not to be named, informed that some 30-40 thousand unfit vessels had been plying on river routes across the country. Legal measurers have to be taken against those prior to the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, he added.Responding to a query, the minister said the government has given necessary directives to the authorities concerned so that no unfit vessels can ply river routes. “We want to prevent plying of such vessels especially during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr,” he said.When asked, he said necessary measures have to be taken to curb extortion at different ferry ghats to facilitate smooth movement of passengers. The law enforcement agencies would keep constant vigil to this end, he added.
