Meghna launch disaster

Last Thursday's motor launch accident on the Meghna river in Brahmanbaria is yet another instance of utter callousness of the river-vessel operators towards human life. We are deeply shocked at the loss of so many lives (33 by the latest count) and convey our heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved families. The circumstances under which MV Bipasha, bound for Jamalganj from Bhairab, had sunk at Char Kakoria after it had hit a sunken stone-laden trawler, follow a very familiar pattern. The number of passengers that the launch was carrying was more than its capacity. It was plying at night, though, given its age, it was about 30 years old and should have operated only during daytime. This latest launch tragedy only adds to some 535 mishaps that occurred between 1985 and 2010, according to a survey. The government even formed some 863 committees to probe the accidents during that period. Recommendations like increasing the number of ship surveyors and inspectors, monitoring of fitness-checking procedures, formation of river police and waterway safety committee, etc., were also made by those probe bodies. But there has so far been no progress about implementation of those recommendations. The government has now formed a probe committee to look into the latest launch mishap. We hope it will be able to identify the causes of the mishap and help bring those responsible to justice. The government should now lay more emphasis on putting a proper river vessel monitoring system in place as well as implement other recommendations that came from previous probe bodies to help avert any future launch tragedy. Mohammed Jashim Uddin E-mail: juctg2008@gmail.com