Former shipping minister Shajahan Khan has claimed that not a single launch capsized anywhere in the country’s inland waters in the last five years.
He made this statement while addressing a seminar on "One decade in the development of shipping sector” organised by the Shipping and Communication Reporters’ Forum at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
He said: “There has been no capsize in Bangladesh's inland waterways after the tragic Pinak 6 launch capsize in the Padma River.
"This has been possible due to the government's strict policy followed by the launch owners and workers."
In 2014, Pinak 6 sank in the Padma River as it was overcrowded with nearly 200 passengers, killing around 50 people instantly with many missing.
However, the former minister's statement about launch capsize came in a sharp contrast with the ground reality.
According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, at least 292 people were killed in 12 passenger launch capsizes that took place between 2014 and 2018, including the Pinak 6 tragedy.
In an even worse vessel accident, at least 70 people died after a passenger launch called MV Mostafa, sank on the Paturia-Daulatdia route in the same river on February 22, 2015.
