Risky river journey

A large number of people from different districts including Pabna, Rajbari and Manikganj take risky ride on trawlers to cross the Jamuna and Padma rivers but the authorities concerned have hardly taken any initiative to stop the illegal practice despite casualties in several incidents of trawler capsize.

 Around 40 engine-run trawlers are being used for carrying passengers on Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia routes, although it is illegal and risky, said Faridul Islam, assistant director (Traffic) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's (BIWTA) Aricha office.

“The trawlers have no life saving equipment and the operators are without license for using the boats for carrying passengers across the large rivers. We wrote to deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Manikganj, Rajbari and Pabna to take necessary steps to stop illegal plying of the small boats on the two routes.”

Contacted, Manikganj Superintendent of Police Rifat Rahman Shamim said, “BIWTA cannot evade their responsibility just by sending letters. They are the legal authority to see the matter. Police gives support to the BIWTA when they ask for.”

Manikganj Deputy Commissioner SM Ferdaus said he will take lawful action in this regard.

On August 28, three people including a child went missing after a trawler carrying 100 passengers capsized in the Jamuna after a collision with a cement-laden cargo vessel.

Divers from Fire Service and Civil Defence Dhaka office and three units from its Manikganj office failed to recover the bodies of missing people despite trying the whole the day as the rescue operation was hampered due to bad weather and strong current of the river, said Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant director of Manikganj Fire Service and Civil Defence.

At least 15 other passengers were also injured in the accident.

This correspondent talked to many people who use these engine trawlers to cross the Padma and Jamuna rivers.

The people of Bera upazila and adjacent areas of Pabna district and Shahzadpur upazila and adjacent areas of Sirajganj district use trawlers on the Aricha-Kazirhat route to avoid traffic jam on highway while the people of Goalunda upazila and Rajbari district travel by trawlers on Paturia-Daulatdia route as they have to wait long time for boarding ferryboats and launches.