7-month ban on risky vessels in S dists starts

The authorities have imposed a seven-month-long restriction on plying of risky passenger carrying watercrafts, including small launches and trawlers, on eight routes in the 'danger zone' of Meghna and Tetulia estuaries and coastal areas yesterday.

The shipping ministry imposes the ban from March 15 to October 15 on around 3000 kilometres of waterways every year as nor'westers and cyclones during the period threaten lives of passers in the southern region, said Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, and in-charge of river safety and traffic management of Barisal port.

The 'danger zone' routes are Elisha-Mozu Chowdhurir hat, Char Alexander-Daulatkhan, Char Alexandar-Mirzakalu, Char Alexandar-Aslampur, Manpura-Tajumuddin, Manpura-Sashibhushan, Dasmina-Char Kalmi of the Meghna River and Dasmina-Char Mantaj of Meghna and Tetulia rivers.

"We have sent letter to the UNOs and different police stations in this area, for action to stop plying of risky water transports in the danger zone," said the BIWTA official.

However, he admitted that the ban, without an arrangement of sufficient alternative transport, will create problem for a large number of people in the area where watercrafts are the main mode of transport.

"Sea trucks Khizir-7 and Khizir-8 will start operation on Elisha-Mazu Chowdhurir Hat route today. We are trying to arrange two sea trucks in other routes on the danger zone soon," said Gopal Chandra Majumdar, manager of BIWTC Barisal station.

But only four seas trucks are too inadequate to meet the requirement of a large number of passengers using the eight coastal routes, locals said.

The seven-month ban without arranging sufficient number of safe vessels with valid licence for crossing the areas near the Bay will make the ban virtually meaningless, said Arif Hossain, a frequent passenger on the routes.

Due to shortage of safe water transport in remote areas isolated by rivers, local people often get on unsafe small motor launches, boats, and trawlers on the Meghna and Tetulia rivers, said Anwar Hossain, a passenger on Elisha-Mazu Chowdhurir Hat route.