‘Waterway accidents take 149 lives in three months’

Though the number of launch capsizes has decreased, accidents still take place on inland waterways round the year and deaths of people continue, said a report of two non-government organisations today.

In 95 waterway accidents in the last three months, at least 149 people, including 22 women and 44 children, were killed while 26 others were injured. Another 58 others went missing.

The 58 missing victims were also considered deceased as they were not found later, raising the death toll to 207, revealed a survey by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR).

The fatal accidents took place in different inland waterways and coastal areas between 1 July and 30 September.

The survey was conducted on the basis of 24 national and 10 regional dailies and nine news portals and news agencies, says a press release.

Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of GCB blamed lack of proper monitoring, a huge number of illegal vessels and unskilled masters and drivers for the accidents.

He also told UNB that the number of waterway accidents is decreasing.