A new year is upon us, and unfortunately, Bangladesh launched the new year with a trawler being capsized by a launch, which has left 10 people missing -- including four of a family and several children. According to a recently published report, collisions have accounted for 61.72% of all waterway accidents from 2008 to 2019. And if the beginning of the new year is any indication, then it seems like we are on our way to upholding and even breaking this record.
This is not something that a country with the ambitions of Bangladesh should have to suffer from. Bangladesh has always been a riverine country, so it would be expected that at least the waterways would be safe from accidents and mismanagement. But the contrary consensus has prevailed in the fact that it has become an expectation that there would be accidents and other mishaps if one travels by water -- rather than accidents like this being the exception. And with our developmental goals and the blue economy strategy that we aim to implement, this much risk in our waterways cannot be tolerated.
The authorities need to fix this, and they need to fix this fast. Almost all of these accidents happen because of the less-than-ideal condition of the water vessels and the repeated incompetence of both the drivers and authorities that are affiliated with this sector. Vessels of all shapes and sizes need to be regularly checked. Anti-corruption forces need to examine the state bodies that are tasked with overseeing this section to root out the bad weeds. Only experienced and learned people need to be made the captain of these vessels, and proper checks and balances have to be set up so that any and all mishaps are properly investigated, and culprits are brought to justice, no matter who might be behind them.
Bangladesh is a land of rivers and we have a lot of tall ambitions. Let us honour both our roots and commitments, lest we want these disasters to continue.