Less than two weeks after the fatal capsize of the Patuakhali-bound MV Shathil 1 in the river Kalagachhiya, a passenger launch has capsized on the Meghna river near Munshiganj with more than 200 passengers on board.
With operations to recover bodies continuing on Friday afternoon, over 27 people were confirmed drowned and there are varying estimates of the number of passengers known to have swum to safety.
As rescue teams and local authorities continue their work to help survivors and victims, a three-member probe committee has been asked to submit a report within seven working days.
Even if adverse weather conditions are found to have been the cause of this tragic incident, there is no excuse for not taking more effective action to prevent accidents on the country’s waterways.
The lack of accountability for lax implementation of safety rules is a worrying fact of life for passengers throughout our transport systems. Vessel operators must be held to account where they are found to breach weight limits or operate with negligent disregard to passenger safety.
Over 4,420 people have died in 550 passenger launch accidents in the last 38 years.
Past probe committees have found endemic breaches of basic safety measures, with numerous vessels that are outdated or have structural flaws, operating with impunity.
It is absolutely essential for the government not to accept business as usual, but to take effective measures to ensure long term safety. It must appoint an adequate number of inspectors to enable authorities to properly implement safety rules.
