Launch disasters: shipping ministry's failure

. PHOTO: AFP

Following are some numbers that I picked up from old DS archive issues from the web:

There were approximately 682 deaths between 1991-2001. In 2001, Colonel (rtd) Akbar took charge as the shipping minister. Since then, in less than four years, a staggering 1331 deaths (at least!) occurred in river accidents:

MV Salauddin in May 2002 with 450 people.

MV Shubha in May 2002 with 30 people.

MV Mitali in April 2003 with 131 people.

MV Nasrin in July 2003 with 600 people (I was too sad and had to give up after this one and straightway went to the latest one), MV Maharaj in February 2005 with 120 people And this listsorrowfullyis not exhaustive.

Is it a mere coincidence that we experienced more than double the deaths during our current shipping minister's era than the rest of the history of independent Bangladesh? Or is it his failure to ensure safety on river with the growing demand for the same?

In your editorial you've mentioned some important reasons for such launch accidents: overloading, flouting of navigational rules, inadequate and improper weather forecast, unsafe built of the river crafts. But what I so frustratingly agree with you is that "We have not learned anything from the major launch mishaps in the past." Not even our one-of-the-longer-lasting shipping ministers has learned anything, let alone taking responsibility for these deaths.

On such occasions, when faced with questions from media men, he says there shouldn't be any question of his resignation; that he is not at fault. He says he doesn't have funds. He says he has people who are corrupt.

Don't you think he should take the responsibility of it all?

He has come up with similar rebuts this time as well. If we search the database, we can find the same promises made last year as well.

Who'll ever prove him wrong? How many more deaths would we need?

I always try to see and portray the brighter sides of stories from home usually. But today I close with a truly heavy heart, a truly heavy one.

I am greatly shocked by the recurrent launch accidents. According to a DS report (Feb 22, 2005), over 4,000 people died in launch accidents in the last decade. In the latest launch accident on Feb 19, so far 120 people are reported to have died and many are still missing. Where is the passengers' safety and what's the duty of the shipping ministry? My village home is situated in a coastal island. Except launch there's no way to travel to that place. The shipping ministry is almost inactive and is doing nothing to prevent such accidents.

According to my opinion, it is the result of the total failure of the shipping ministry. All passenger launches are travelling in an overloaded condition all the time. Besides, the launches are now acting as cargo vessels (i.e. carrying goods). I saw this during travelling to my destination in the southern region. The launch owners manage it by bribing the officials concerned.

We do not see any such recurrent launch disasters elsewhere in the world. We are really an exception!

Passengers' safety should be a matter of top priority. Therefore, very stringent safety conditions are the ultimate necessity of passenger launches. It is the prime responsibility of the shipping ministry to ensure this safety. As things stand now, the ministry has completely failed to prevent launch disasters.

I strongly feel someone should take the responsibility and bring about the necessary changes.

MS Uddin, Kyoto, Japan