The diving unit of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, a very important unit for rescuing victims of waterways accidents, has remained ill-equipped over decades despite the fact that such accidents have meanwhile increased in the country.
The unit has only 20 divers at present, who work in rescue operations across the country.
No governments have taken any major initiatives, since the inception of the FSCD in 1982, to develop the diving unit. The FSCD has rather focused all its efforts on the development of other wings.
Officials concerned said the unit’s manpower has not increased since its formation with just 25 divers in 1990.
If an accident occurs, these divers are always called in to conduct rescue operations. If a major accident takes place, the FSCD faces enormous problems as small accidents also happen across the country and resources are stretched thin.
When these divers are sent to tackle the aftermath of an accident, they cannot conduct rescue operations properly because they are not well equipped. They cannot even carry out searches at depths greater than 30 feet because they are all shallow water divers, officials said.
There are two divers each in Chandpur, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sadarghat terminals, apart from four divers at the Siddikbazar headquarters.
At least 4,420 people were killed, 520 injured and 400 others remain missing in over 550 launch accidents in the last 38 years, according to official figures. Of them, around 1,960 people were killed and 176 went missing in the last decade. However, the number of deaths are probably higher than the official figure.
In August this year, 45 passengers were killed as launch Pinak 6 capsized in the Padma River while MV Miraj 4 sank in the Meghna River in May, claiming the lives of at least 57 people.
According to data compiled by the fire service control room, the FSCD team had attended 516 waterway accidents where 722 bodies were recovered and 12 people were rescued.
From January to August 10 this year, the team attended to 41 river accidents.
Abul Khayer, team leader of divers, told the Dhaka Tribune that the diving unit is facing an acute shortage of divers, seriously hampering rescue operations.
“We have only 20 divers across the country. So, we sometime have to face problems in dealing with accidents if two accidents happen at the same time. If we send divers to one spot, another operation is hampered. Additionally, we are not well equipped,” he said.
About the Pinak 6 launch capsize, he said: “There were four divers at Mawa to carry out rescue operations. But in the middle of the operation, we were asked to send two divers to attend another accident. I sent two of them and they returned to Mawa after completing the other operation which took a long time, hampering the operation at Mawa.”
“I yesterday attended to four operations in the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya Rivers, and in Ashulia and Khilgaon Taltola. Like me, all of our divers have to attend frequent diving missions within the shortest possible time as our department is understaffed. At least 200 divers are badly needed to help us rescue people properly,” said Khayer who has won several awards, including the Prime Minister’s Award for showing courage during the operations.
Fire service officials said the number of divers should be increased soon and all the divers should be given training and proper equipment.
“In the major river accidents, fire service divers risk their lives, not naval officers nor BIWTA officials. We have a river unit, but there are no posts for divers,” said Khandoker A Jalil, senior station officer (station chief) of the fire service headquarters.
Both Khayer and Jalil confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that FSCD had not increased its manpower since its inception and the number of divers never exceeded 25.
When contacted, FSCD’s Director General Brigadier General Ali Ahmed Khan said his organisation needs a minimum of 150 divers to work smoothly.
“The number of divers is less compared to demand. We have informed the home ministry of the issue and the needs for immediate recruitment,” he added.