Rights groups demand safe waterways

Human rights organisations have urged the government to decentralise the process of approval, monitoring and design of waterways vessels to reduce accidents. They also demanded that officials concerned be brought under trial in case of negligence of duties in making the waterways safe. 16 organisations placed the demands at a press conference in the city yesterday. They are: Akash, Annwesha, Arpan, CDP, DOCAP, Graus, NBS, PRAN, Prantojon, PULS Bangladesh, Royal Bengal Foundation, ShaplaPhool, SDO, Udayan Bangladesh, UnnayanDhara Trust and COAST Trust. Aminur Rasul Babul of UnnayanDhara Trust moderated the press conference while Mujibul Haque Munir of COAST Trust presented the keynotes. The speakers urged the authorities to prepare a detail database system for all types of waterway vessels to make easy the identification of faulty and ones, according to UNB.