We are saddened by the death toll in the appalling sinking of a passenger launch carrying more than 200 passengers, near Munshiganj on the river Padma.
The Munshiganj area suffered a similar accident in May when a vessel sank near Doulatpur on the river Meghna, claiming 58 lives.
Unfortunately, authorities can hardly claim to be surprised by this latest tragedy.
Already this year, the grim total of over 4,500 people being killed in the 550 plus passenger launch accidents occurring since 1976, has been added to repeatedly.
In spite of numerous inquiries over the years and high levels of public concern, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) allows hazardous and outdated vessels to ply their trade with impunity.
Procedures for inspecting and maintaining boats are rarely followed and untrained boat operators routinely risk passenger lives.
To make matters worse, far from showing concern for basic passenger safety, many operators and launch owners have pressured and connived with authorities to regularly breach and undermine standards.
Overloading of boats is commonplace, placing passengers at even more risk by reducing the stability of vessels, whose safety is already compromised by unfit equipment and poor maintenance.
It is difficult to comprehend why such incompetence and negligence is allowed to continue.
With millions of passengers dependant on river transport, there should be enormous incentive for responsible operators to invest in modern boats to deliver safer and more efficient services.
The government and boat owners must take urgent action against unsafe practices and operators. There is no excuse for inaction.
