The New Nation - Internet Edition

Speakers at a press conference yesterday rged the government for undertaking an integrated efforts to ensure safe inland water transport in the country by rearranging

and strengthening the present inspection system. They called upon the government for identifying the risky water routes and unfit and unsafe launches plying at present and fixing a timeframe for withdrawing from the routes in order to avoid frequent river accidents and save a large number of lives. They were speaking at a press conference on "Safe Water Transport" organized by the Safe Water Way Implementation Movement at the National Press Club in the city. Member Secretary of the Safe Water Way Implementation Movement Md Aminur Rasul readout the written statement at the conference. Leaders of the organization Shahadat Islam Chowdhury, Azizul Islam, Monir Ahmed Shubra, Shah Zaman Dulal, Sharmin Islam Daisy, Rafiqul Alam and AM Feroz Hossain also spoke.

Highlighting various irregularities in the inland water transports Aminur Rasul said, most of the water transports in the country do not have fitness and these vessels were not made following the proper design. Besides, most of the crews are not skilled and they lack of proper awareness.

As a result, a total of 529 launches faced accident in the country during last 31 years, of which about 70 percent were unfit and made violating the appropriate design, he said adding that if the vessels were made as per the design, then the risk of sinking the water vessels could be minimized.

Aminur Rasul also emphasized the need for formulating an inland waterway transport guideline in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).