The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

At least 1,658 people died and over 800 remained missing in eight major vessel accidents in the country from May 3, 2002 to the recent capsize on the last Thursday (February 28).

On last Thursday's accident, rescuers recovered 39 bodies of drowned passengers, including 9 children and 18 women, and over 50 were missing after a motor-launch with about 200 passengers on board capsized in the Buriganga River on outskirt the capital after being hit by a sand carrying cargo vessel.

With more than 250 rivers in different areas, the country has a highest fatality rates for vessel accidents, which killed thousands of people since 1977 in hundreds of deadly accidents.

Abdus Shahid, a member of the Government's investigation committee, after visiting the spot and salvaging motor-launch-MV Shaurov-1, identified official negligence to implement the findings of previous major vessel accidents as the main reason for the repetition of deadly incidents.

"Number of major deadly accidents could have been reduced to minimal level had the authorities concerned taken corrective measures, including banning cruising of vessels with faulty design," he said.

Following are the major vessel accidents that ended with heavy human casualty in the country since 2002.

On May 3, 2002, about 400 passengers died or were missing when a ferry with about 500 passengers on board capsized in Meghna river, one of the country's three longest rivers.

On April 21, 2003, at least 81 passengers died and more than 200 were missing as a ferry with more than 300 passengers on board sank in Buriganga river.

On the same day, another ferry with about 100 passengers on board capsized after being hit by storm, leaving about 40 passengers drowned.

On July 8, 2003, about 800 passengers were feared drowned when an overloaded ferry with about 1000 passengers on board capsized in Meghna river.

On May 23, 2004, at least 61 passengers were killed and more than 100 missing when a ferry with 250 passengers on board sank after being hit by storm.

On Feb. 19, 2005, at least 154 passengers were killed when a ferry sank in Buriganga river after being hit by storm.

On May 15, 2005, at least 63 passengers were killed and more than 40 missing when a ferry capsized in a river in southwest of the country.