Launch tragedy, once again

The first leg of the Eid journey this year, more or less hassle and accident-free as it was, has belied the nightmarish experiences of the second leg for many. Apart from a few road and boat accidents - including at least two involving trains, bus and cars, the launch accident last Monday all but took the wind out of the feel-good sail. Another launch coming from Hularhat on way to Dhaka could avoid a similar fate only a couple of days ago by a whisker. Both launches developed cracks in the bottom and sank -the latest one in the midstream of the river Padma. The earlier one anchored on an emergency basis on detection of the crack and the resultant surge of water inside for the passengers to evacuate the vessels in time. In both cases the bottom of the launches gave in because they carried many times more passengers than their capacities. According to a report, the launch that sank with about 300 passengers on board had a capacity for only 85 passengers. Moreover, at the time of issuing licence it was clearly mentioned that the vessel was unfit for coursing rivers in turbulent waters.
Clearly, some people at some point did not do their jobs according to the rule. This is despite the fact that aerial surveillance from helicopters was put in place for the first time in the country's history. The surveillance proved inadequate when it mattered most for saving lives of passengers of the ill-fated launch. At the time weather was foul and ports hoisted number 2 warning signal. The launch defied the warning but the aerial inspection could have compelled the launch not to move from its starting point or to go back before it came to the Padma. Had the people responsible for supervision of the launches at their jetties done their duty well, the tragedy could also be avoided. How can a launch with a capacity for only 85 passengers be allowed to leave with about 300 of them? It is a sure recipe for disaster and this exactly has happened.
Once again, an investigation committee has been formed to produce a report within a specific time frame. Months ago another launch sank in the country's south and before that a series of launch accidents had occurred in Meghna and elsewhere. Quite a good number of important suggestions were made to tackle the irregularities and other malpractices leading to overloading of launches and inept piloting of vessels by inexperienced men. Those recommendations have passed listlessly. Now that yet another launch tragedy has occurred, the authorities will set in motion activities that are routinely done after each such tragedy only to forget all about it after sometime. This cannot be a rational approach to an issue involving the highest number of casualties in one single accident. To make the launch journey safe and comfortable, the recommendations made by the inquiry committee should be implemented without any let-up. Those found guilty of neglect of duty should also be punished accordingly so that in future no one dare commit the same mistake.