Thousands of passengers heading to Chittagong-Sandwip route risk their lives in stormy weather with little or no safety measures, reports Somoy TV. Fatal accidents occur on a regular as passengers overcrowd the sea-trucks and boats and the absence of efficient boat propellers is an addition.
According to Somoy TV’s report, a disastrous accident occurred on 2nd April where 18 passengers lost their lives as a boat carrying them to the shore sank in the Bay of Bengal.
Although instructions have been set to stop shipping passengers in unfavorable weather, the aim to earn more profit for the boat crew prompts them to double the passenger capacity of each boat.
Chittagong District Council Secretary Sabbir Iqbal said “All boat operations were closed due to the harsh weather. BIWTC carried on with their boat operations carelessly without the consent of higher authority.”
Sandwip Guptachhara and Sitakunda Kumira Ghat have a distance of 18 nautical miles. Everyday, one to two thousand passengers use this route to travel by speed boats, service boats and sea-trucks. Rental speed boats are found at a cost of 300 taka while service boats and sea-trucks are found for 100 taka.
In the event of a major accident where many lost their lives, protective measures were taken. However, after a day or two people forgot about it and went on using the route without safety in mind.
Sabah Mannan