A study by the country’s waterways authority says that despite the death of 10,436 people in over 20,000 accidents since 1972, shipping safety recommendations had yet to be implemented strictly.
The BIWTA study said, despite the repeated occurrence of maritime mishaps in the country, the government had yet to implement probe committee suggestions aimed at decreasing the incidence of accidents.
Furthermore, even though the shipping ministry has convened more than 500 accident probe committees to date, a mere 5 committees have published their findings. And even these recommendations have not been implemented.
Following the Pinak 6 tragedy last year, the probe committee identified five key causes of maritime accidents.
They are vessels’ structural and technical defects, uncertified changes in vessel design, overloading of passengers and goods, irresponsible piloting, and ignoring meteorological department advisories.
Although the Pinak 6 accident led to the sacking of three BIWTA staff and the punishment of four others, operational and behavioural changes were not implemented across the inland shipping sector.
Experts said launch owners frequently change the design of their vessels and still managed to obtain fitness certificates from the Shipping Ministry. They said corruption in the process of certifying water craft must be stopped.
Sources said more than 80% of vessels plied the waterways without any form of fitness certification at all.
Despite Shipping Ministry rules for A, B, and C category launches, lower standard B and C category launch owners rarely followed the rules and regulations. Most launches involved in accidents are B and C category vessels.
Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary Mozammel Haque Choudhury said no improvements have been made in passenger safety, despite repeated attempts to pressure the authorities to enforce the rules strictly.
A government inland waterway safety project, which aims to reduce the number of accidents, has not been implemented yet.
The project envisages setting up 11 meteorological centres, a tracking tank to monitor channel currents, a hull stability testing centre, and a maintenance fund.
Meteorological centres are planned for Ashuganj, Narsingdi, Narayanganj, Chandpur, Barisal, Kawkhali, Potuakhali, Ramgati, Paturia, Baghabari, and Mawa.
Although only government-approved dockyards are legally allowed to make vessels, uncertified manufacturers abound.
BIWTA Chairman Khandakar Shamsuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have taken several steps to decrease maritime accidents, and when all the projects have been implemented, the number of accidents may decrease.”
The last three years have witnessed four major maritime disasters, including Sunday’s MV Mostafa capsize, that have left a total of 396 dead in their wake.
Sixty-nine people have been confirmed dead after the MV Mostafa capsized and sank on Sunday.
On August 4 last year, 120 died when MV Pinak 6 went down near Mawa on the Padma River, 62 perished on May 15, 2014, when MV Miraj 4 sank in the Meghna River, and 145 lost their lives on March 12, 2012 when the MV Shariyatpur sank in the Meghna River.
MV Mostafa probe committee
The convener of the 11-member Shipping Ministry probe committee, Joint Secretary Nur-ur Rahman, visited the accident site near Paturia Ghat in Manikganj yesterday and spoke with several witnesses.
Nur-ur Rahman yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have started talking with witnesses of the accident. We will also talk to the survivors, the launch operators, and nearby villagers. We are trying to determine the causes of the accident as quickly as possible.”
The Department of Shipping formed a separate three-member investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident and to identify those who are responsible.
It is expected to submit a report of its findings within 15 working days.
The convener of the committee is nautical surveyor, Captain Muhammad Shajahan, who is joined by special officer Golam Mainuddin Hasan and chief inspector Shafiqur Rahman.