<i>Plying of unsafe boats banned as nor'wester season nears</i>

14 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

As the nor'wester season nears, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authorities (BIWTA) have issued a circular asking owners of passenger vessels to strictly abide by the ban on plying of small and unapproved passenger boats on some risky coastal and estuary routes for seven months from today to October 15. The routes are Shabajpur-Mozuchowdhurir Hat, Daulatkha-Mirzakalu-Char Alexander, Char Alexander-Serajganj-Shashiganj-Betua-Aslampur-Buriabon, Barguna-Patharghata-Baro Machuakati on Meghna, Ilisha, Kocha, Baleswar, Bishkhali, Tentulia river estuaries and in coastal areas. Only sea truck service is allowed on the routes during the period. Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of BIWTA in Barisal office, told The Daily Star that they will seek cooperation from different organisations including law enforcement agencies and local administrations for strict imposition of the ban. A few years ago, the government imposed ban on plying of small launches in the Meghna estuary for the seven months when storms and cyclones pose danger for passenger launches. “Only approved water transports like sea trucks will be allowed to ply the wide, turbulent, rough and risky routes in the southern region as nor'wester, cyclone and storm pose danger to lives and properties in water transports during the period of ban,” Khalad Newaj, manager of BIWTA Barisal office, told The Daily Star. Earlier five sea trucks were introduced on the risky routes and fare for each passenger ranged from Tk 50 to 100. But influential owners of small launches and trawlers created obstacles to passengers' travelling by sea trucks and the BIWTA stopped service of three sea trucks on different routes following losses due to lack of passengers, the BIWTA manager said. The deputy commissioner of Bhola said legal action will be taken against violators of the ban on plying of unsafe boats during the period. During the last several years, a number of launch accidents in the southern region claimed lives of many passengers.