Vessels ply amid risk as most signal lights inactive for years

Most of the signal lights on different river routes in the district have remained inoperative for long, posing problems for water transports plying the routes at night.

Batteries and solar panels of the set-ups were stolen in different times.

BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) set up signal lights in different routes, especially at turnings of rivers in the district in 1990s to help smooth plying of water vehicles at night.

But thieves stole batteries, solar panels from these lights, leaving them inactive for years.

This correspondent found an inoperative signal set-up on the Buragourango River at Amkhola Bazar point.

"About 20 years ago BIWTA set up the signal light that was put on at night. But battery and solar panel from it were stolen several years ago," said Abdur Rashid Dhali, a local resident.

Md Bellal Hossain, a wood trader, said they carry wood to Swarupkathi in Pirojpur district from different areas in the district on cargo vessels but they face problems at night in absence of signal lights on the routes.

Often the loaded vessels get stuck on shoals in the rivers, he said.

Water transports like cargo vessels and double-decker launches regularly ply different routes connecting Kalapara, Char Montaj, Galachipa, Panpatti, Alipur, Mohipur, Amkhola, Patua, Rangabali, Baufal, Kalaiya and Mirzaganj in Patuakhali, Amtali and Taltali in Barguna, and Bhola district.

Patuakhali river port office sources said most of the 59 signal lights, each set up at a cost of Tk 50 thousand, at different points in the district remained inactive for long as their batteries and solar panels were stolen.

Several days ago, Galachipa police arrested two people from Charkhali area under the upazila for their alleged involvement in the matter.

Md Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of BIWTA in Barisal, said, "We will take steps to re-set the inoperative signal lights."