Dhaka Times Report. Eid is ahead. The incident of launch sinking will happen due to the heavy pressure of people. But even then, expired boats are running with risk. Sometimes it breaks down in the middle. But still there is no one to see.
The incident of launch sinking actually happened on Eid. An inquiry committee was formed then. The investigation committee said, the launch was not valid, extra passengers were loaded, etc. But still expired boats are plying in Dedars by sea. An accident is happening. But there is no permanent cure.
It is known that the boat service under the control of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is in poor condition. Due to the indifference and mismanagement of the authorities, the service quality of this government agency has fallen to zero. Almost all of the 197 vessels (passenger, cargo and ferries) have expired. Among these expired and dangerous boats, 157 boats, including four on the Dhaka-Barisal route, are plying on various routes including coastal areas. 40 have been docked at various piers for the past few years. Boats plying on various routes in the coastal areas including Dhaka-Barisal are often breaking down in the middle of the destination. As a result, the number of passengers in boats plying in the coastal area has dropped to zero.
It is alleged that the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna routes are profitable, but the Dhaka-Chittagong route was closed a few years ago by manipulation with private ship owners. The Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna route was also narrowed down two years ago. BIWTC's popular steamer service plying on the narrowed Dhaka-Barisal route is showing a trip-by-trip loss on every vessel despite an increase in passenger numbers and cargo. At present, four steamers are running in tandem on the Dhaka-Barisal route. All four of these steamers are breaking down everywhere. In the name of repairing these ships, several crores of rupees are being looted every year.
It should be noted that after independence, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BIWTC) was formed in 1972 by the order of the then President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with the East Pakistan Shipping Corporation and 608 ships of 9 private companies. In 1972-73 the then government procured another 261 ships. After the formation of the Awami League government in 1996, during the last period of power, it collected 4 sea trucks, 2 ro-ro ferries and a coastal passenger ship. Since then, 648 boats have been sold at different times till June 30, 2009. As a result, the number of passenger boats on the domestic route has decreased. Many routes are closed. The largest route of BIWTC's fleet is the Dhaka-Barisal route. Four steamers ply on this route. The nearly 80-year-old steamers often break down mid-way due to lack of modernisation. These very old steamers often become useless along the way. As a result passengers have to suffer. These obsolete steamers are now almost immobile due to the pressure of modern and fast vessels. Allegedly, due to the indifference of the BIWTC authorities and dishonest officials, these steamers on the Dhaka-Barisal route are now about to be closed due to losses.
It is known that these steamers do not have any safety equipment. Radio Telephone (RT) is installed at the expense of lakhs of rupees but most of the time it is not working. Due to the lack of radar GPS and echo-sounding, the steamer has become difficult to operate. But the authorities have no problem with this. According to sources, during the British rule, these four rocket steamers were plying on Assam, Haldia and Daulatdia routes in India. After the partition of the country in 1947, Pakistan River Steamers took control of the steamers. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 BIWTC took control of them. Since 1972, steamers have been plying on four Dhaka-Barisal-Khulna routes. The steamer four could run continuously for 27 hours due to powerful engines imported from Belgium. They can also operate in rough weather and number two signals. There is little chance of the steamers falling into accidents except for mechanical faults. Among the four steamers PS Mahmud and PS Ostrich were built in 1929. PS Lepcha, PS Turn were built in 1938 and 1950 respectively. They are manufactured at the Garden Reach Workshop in Kolkata. Steamers were initially powered by coal and steam engines. Later they were fitted with diesel engines.
A BIWTC source said that any vessel that needs minor repairs should be brought to Narayanganj Dock. There are instructions that the ship cannot be repaired until it arrives at Narayanganj Dock. As a result, even the slightest damage takes more than a month to repair and costs more.
And this is how the steamers are run in pairs. All the launches that are going on at the private level are also reported to be not properly controlled. It is necessary to look into why action is not being taken against them even after expiry. According to experts, it is necessary to take measures on an urgent basis so that no more lives can be lost.
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