'BIWTC negligence costs life'

This beacon light at Sagar Kuakata is inoperative for the last six months.. PHOTO: STAR

Twenty-two out of 32 beacon lights are out of order for long and another four, stolen long ago, are yet to be re-installed, BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) sources here said.

At least 50 launches ply the routes during daytime and at night.

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The risk increases at night and in early morning when visibility is reduced by dense fog, launch operators said.

In the recent accident that took place on Thursday, at least 12 people were killed and over 100 injured when two launches collided on the Meghna in Hijla, allegedly due to poor visibility in absence of beacon light.

Sources said solar chargers of beacon lights are being stolen by an organised hand of thieves. One light costs Tk 34,000 to Tk 40,000. The thieves sell those in black market, they said.

BIWTA authorities asked police at different thanas in the coastal areas to recover the stolen solar chargers.

Galachipa thana police arrested two persons -- Moslem and Eradul of Charchali village in the upazila with a solar charger stolen from the Agunmukha riverside.

The BIWTA sources claimed that they asked BIWTC authorities repeatedly to restore the signaling system but all their pleas fall on their deaf ears. Their negligence is causing accidents and claiming lives, they alleged.