In a country where vehicles and vessels are crammed with passengers, near-empty ships cruising on its way is a rare sight. A report carried in a Bangla national contemporary presents convincingly how two huge ships operate between Dhaka and Morelganj of Bagerhat. Procured at a cost of Tk 530 million, the two ships M.V. Bangali and M.V. Madhumati have enormous carrying capacities -the former for 750 passengers and maybe, the latter for similar numbers.
Strangely, on a particular day, M.V. Bangali left Sadarghat, Dhaka with only 50 passengers and after four hours when it reached Chandpur, another 70 passengers embarked on it. At 6 am next day, when the ship left for Morelganj from Barisal, there were only 10 passengers on board.
Reportedly, it was not a particularly lean day for the ship. This is a usual picture not only for this ship but also for the other one. When the ships have to cruise so empty, it is only natural that they have to incur losses. But who cares? The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is, moreover, going to press into service another two such ships which are in the process of construction at a cost of Tk 720 million. The minister concerned has argued that the important thing is to serve passengers, not to make profit.
Is it so? So long people were given to understand that the purpose of spending public money on infrastructure or any other facilities was to serve the maximum number of users or customers. Here the reverse seems to be the case. Pouring in money for serving a handful of passengers is the motto here. Why? M.V. Bangali, for example has 35 crew including the captain and there is a four-member contingent of the police responsible for security of the ship. The 10 or so passengers who make the journey from Barisal on the final leg can consider them lucky to have the royal treatment. Only members of royal families can expect so many people looking after their safe journey!
Whether passengers on board get to enjoy lavish entertainment like members of royal families or not is immaterial here. In a democratic dispensation, someone must be accountable for the public money spent. Also there should be logic for spending such money. Before embarking on any venture, there is need for studying its viability. Dhaka-Morelganj waterway has already proved non-viable and still there is a plan to go ahead with two more ships.
In just 28 months M.V. Bangali has incurred a total loss of Tk 32 million and M.V. Madhumati in its 15 months of operation had a loss of Tk 19 million to its name. Evidently, the losses will mount when more such ships start operating on the route. There is a valid reason behind the apathy of passengers taking the comparatively more comfortable journey by ships. It takes an unusually long time -often 20-21 hours -- to reach the destination. By this time, passengers can travel there three times by bus.
Now one of the ships has extended its journey up to Khulna and the other too is likely to follow suit soon. It is still unclear if the extended journey will be able to attract enough passengers at least to avert losses for the ships. Also, with the completion of the Padma bridge, the time for road journey will be even far shorter. What prospect will the ships stand then? It would be better to have their use on shorter routes such as between Dhaka and Barisal. There is no point turning them into white elephants.
