Salvage of the Pinak 6 launch resulted in failure due to foul weather and strong river currents, claimed Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday.
“The rescue operation did not succeed due to inclement weather and strong current of the river,” he told the parliament while replying to a question from ruling party lawmaker Selina Jahan Lita during the question-answer session.
The double-decker launch carrying more than 250 passengers capsized in the Padma River on August 4 due to strong current and high winds. Later, the bodies of 48 passengers were recovered while 58 passengers were still missing. After an 8-day search, the rescuers called off the operation.
About the Pinak 6 capsize, Shajahan Khan said the accident occurred “due to greed for earning more profits” by the launch owner.
Mentioning various initiatives taken by the government to rescue the Pinak 6 launch, he said the BIWTA, Navy, Fire Service, Chittagong Port Authority, district administration, law enforcement agencies and local representatives jointly carried out the rescue operation.
“We continued the rescue operation for seven days and on the eighth day, it was declared abandoned as per the decision of the rescue team,” he said.
While responding to a supplementary question, he said the government had taken action against the persons responsible for the launch capsize. A probe committee was formed to investigate the incident and a case was filed in this regard, he added.
Replying to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Peer Fazlur Rahman, the minister said it was not true that maritime accidents had increased after 2009.
He claimed that maritime accidents had decreased due to various measures taken by the incumbent government.
In reply to a question from Awami League lawmaker Israfil Alam of Naogaon 6 constituency, the minister said 558 maritime accidents took place in the country since 1976. A total of 4,500 people were killed and 500 injured in maritime accidents while more or less 450 went missing, he added.
