Worn-out launches getting a facelift ahead of Eid

Sayed Mostak Ahmed: Dhaka, Apr-23,

As Eid-ul-Fitr looms on the horizon, many worn-out and faulty launches are getting a quick facelift to ply on different river routes across the country during the huge rush of holidaymakers, putting lives at risk.

Over 30 faulty vessels are overhauling at various dockyards in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the city to carry passengers of 22 southern districts at the time of the eid festival.
Visiting various dockyards in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the city, this correspondent found over 30 launches undergoing facelifts. There are 27 dockyards, including Rahman’s Dockyard, Lucky Dockyard and Chairman Dockyard, from Telghat to Mirerbagh in Keraniganj where launch owners brought their vessels for overhauling.

Faulty and unfit launches are taking a new look after refurbishment and repair at most of dockyards.

It was seen that repair works were going on various launches, including Adventure-1, MV Prince Awlad-5, MV Jamal-9, From MV Farhan-2, Bogdadia-7, Bogdadia-9, Mayur-2, Kajal-7, Parabat-9, Parabat-10, Parabat-11, MV Rajhangsa-7, Glory of Srinagar and MV Lamia.

Abdul Karim, a worker of a dockyard, said many launch owners started bringing their vessels to the dockyards for refurbishment and repairing even before Ramadan with the hope that they will get adequate passengers during this eid unlike last two years as Covid situation is now normal.

He said every dockyard is now going through a busy time by repairing and painting the old and faulty vessels.

Karim, however, said the owners only want to carry out small and cosmetic repairing and good painting of their launches so that they can operate those during the eid occasion even taking risks with some problems.

A Barishal bound three-storey run-down launch MV Prince Awlad was seen undergoing repair works at Lucky Dockyard. Some workers were working on the inside floors of the vessel while others are busy applying a new coat of paint to the launch.

Abu Taher, a dockyard worker, said they would complete necessary repair works and painting within a week. “So, we have to work almost round the clock. There were various problems with the launch and we’ve already fixed those.”

Hiru, the supervisor of the launch, said they brought the vessel for the reaping work of its body and plate alongside the painting. “We’ll operate the launch to carry passengers before and after eid.”

Another worn-out Barishal-bound launch Adventure-1 was also being refurbished at painted at another dockyard. Many parts of the launch have been replaced to make it ready for operation.

Contacted, NCPSRR General Secretary Ashis Kumar Dey said the way some old and ill-equipped vessels are hurriedly repaired and given a facelift it will increase the risk of accidents in the waterways during the busy time of eid.

“We have long been urging the government to stop this practice, but the authorities concerned didn’t pay heed to it. The launch owners can manage fitness certificates in connivance with the officials concerned,” he alleged.

Ashis said though the government is talking about conducting mobile courts and increasing the vigilance of law enforcers to stop plying of unfit vessels and check overcrowding, it will not be able to do that due to the mad rush of home goers.

Besides, he said around 85 launched ply on 33 different routes from Sadarghat every day. “This inadequate number of vessels can’t carry around 40-lakh one-way passengers on the eid occasions. So, the launch owners will try to carry passengers several times beyond their capacity. It has to be checked.”

“It’s a season of nor’westers and storms and thunderstorms. Most of the river routes will be risky for sailing during the rush of holidaymakers because of monsoon rain, strong current, ebb and flow influenced by upcoming new moon. So, if we can’t stop excessive overloading of passengers and ply of unfit vessels, there’ll be a strong risk of accidents during this eid occasion,” the expert warned.

Ahmed Shamim Al Razi, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said launches that do not have a fitness or have problems will not be allowed to operate.

He said they will conduct mobile courts while the law enforcers will patrol the waterways to ensure the safety of the eid holidaymakers and stop the operation of unfit and defective vessels.

End/Dnm/Sma/Raj/