We express deep concern over a Ro Ro ferry Shah Amanat capsize at Paturia Ghat in Manikganj and urge the authorities concerned to take all out measures to complete the rescue operations immediately.
Ro-ro ferry ‘Amanat Shah’ which has expired a decade ago, carrying 17 heavy vehicles, mostly goods-laden trucks, and 16 motorbikes sank in the Padma River at Paturia Ferry Terminal in Manikganj on Wednesday. However, no casualties were reported in the accident till writing this editorial.
Bangladesh had brought Shah Amanat and seven other Ro-Ro ferries from Denmark in 1980. It is worrying to note that Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is running the outdated ferries as it failed to add new ferry to its fleet in time, putting people’s lives into danger and making their journey a nightmare.
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A BIWTC official said ferry ‘Amanat Shah’ built in 1980 was faulty and underwent massive servicing just four months back, but recently, a hole was discovered at the bottom of the ferry. Hence, the question is how and in what way the BIWTC authority allowed the rundown ferry with a hole developed at its bottom to ply. Needless to say, had the ferry carrying bus and coach passengers sunk in the mid Padma it would have been a a big disaster.
Mobile courts, waterway police and special forces
must stay alert at all ferry ghats and launch
terminals across the country to stop plying rundown water
vessels in order to ensure passengers’ safety
We must address whether the water vessels are abiding by traffic rules or not, whether the state-run ferries or other water vessels have fitness or not and whether the masters are eligible or not.
We think the Ministry of Shipping and its two wings-- Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) have many flaws. When the BIWTA is determined not to allow any rundown launches or other water vessels to ply, the BIWTC is running outdated ferries.
In this regard, mobile courts, waterway police and special forces must stay alert at all ferry ghats and launch terminals across the country to stop plying rundown water vessels in order to ensure passengers’ safety. Waterway accidents have become a common phenomenon in the country. Therefore, regular maintenance is essential to keep the water vessels including launches and ferries safe and reliable. We think lack of maintenance can lead to a big a disaster in waterways. Hence, before the authorities concerned start plying any water vessels they need to think about what risks may occur and how these can be managed.
