Water Vessels
Lack of manpower hampering fitness: Minister
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday said the annual fitness survey of water transports can not be done properly due to a lack of manpower.
“Only four surveyors are designated to survey around 10,000 vessels each year. It is an impossible task for them,” he said.
Shajahan was addressing a roundtable, “Role to ensure safe and comfortable journey for marine passengers during Eid”, organised by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) and Jonoudyog in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
The government does not have a figure on water vessel numbers because the river transport census can not be done properly due to a manpower crisis, he said.
“Recruiting manpower requires changes in the organisational organogram. If I send a proposal to increase manpower, the final approval takes a lot of time. But the process of recruiting manpower is underway,” he said.
The government was mulling over plans to form marine police to ensure safety on the riverine routes, he said.
Poba Chairman Abu Naser Khan recommended keeping a sufficient number of lifejackets on launches and barring overloading and people from riding on launch roofs.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker, Poba Secretary Syed Monwar Hossain, Communist Party of Bangladesh President Monjurul Ahsan Khan, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation Chairman Mojibar Rahman and Women Envoy President Shamsunnhar Mushfique also spoke at the discussion.
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