Sabbir Alam Babu, Bhola

It has been alleged that there are not adequate measures for the safety of passengers on the 58th route of Bhola. Speaking on the spot, the victim M Farukur Rahman said that his stolen handbag contained a gold necklace weighing 4 and a half ounces and about 15 ounces of gold ornaments including a diamond ring. Besides, the cash was 45 thousand rupees.

He complained that the matter was reported to a launch clerk but he did not listen. A written complaint was lodged at Sadarghat Naval Police Station and it was sent to South Keraniganj Police Station. But to no avail.

As per the rules, every launch is supposed to have adequate life buoys, fire buckets, fire extinguishers, sand boxes and life jackets in the cabins, but most passenger launches plying from Bhola to Dhaka and Barisal do not have them. Ordinary passengers have to travel on these routes with their lives in hand. Therefore, ordinary passengers have demanded to take effective measures in launches to ensure 100% safety of passengers.

However, the launch authorities claim that their launches have adequate buoys, fire buckets, fire extinguishers and passenger safety measures including Ansar members.

Visiting the ferry at Bhola Sadar Upazila, it has been seen that the pontoons of the seaport are anchored at Karnafuli-11, Glory of Srinagar-6, MV Bhola and Karnafuli-9 plying on Bhola-Dhaka route. Visiting the Karnafuli-11 launch, it was seen that a large gas cylinder was kept near the tea shop on the ground floor of the launch. No Ansar members were seen at the launch. No Ansar members were found in Glory of Srinagar either. Ruhul Amin, the supervisor of the launch, however, claimed that three Ansar members were regularly stationed at their launch. No police personnel were seen at the ferry. At the same time, two passenger launches plying on the Bhola-Barisal route were spotted at the Veduria launch dock. Sensing the presence of a journalist, it was not time to launch a launch, but he quickly left the pontoon and went into the river.

Going to the ground floor of the ML Meghdoot-2 launch, one can see a large gas cylinder near the tea shop. In this regard, the master of the launch Sabuj and Sukani Ghiyasuddin said that the gas cylinder will be removed from the tea shop of the launch soon.

Meanwhile, no policeman was seen at the Veduria launch ghat. Locals including Kamal and Kalu Jasim, the autorickshaw drivers of the ghat, said there were no police at the Veduria launch ghat. According to the launch passengers, the general launch passengers of Bhola have become helpless due to the violence of the launch authorities and ghat leaseholders at Veduria launch ghat, Kheyaghat and Ilisha ghat. Apart from this, the general passengers also complained that the ghat leaseholders were treating the passengers in the ghats very badly. Abdur Razzak, deputy director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense Vola office, told reporters, "Everything related to launches, including firefighting, is usually handled by BIWTA authorities." That is why we are not being monitored regularly, ”he said.

In this regard, Shahidul Islam, Assistant Director, Bhola Port and Transport, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), told reporters that BIWTA is working to ensure passenger safety and uninterrupted launch. Every day before leaving the launch, it is being checked whether the survey certificate and registration are updated. Overseeing the activities of the security personnel under the full management of the passenger safety and launch owners at all times.