They identified the 'Danger Zone' and that's all
People of a coastal island in Patuakhali taking risky journey on a mechanised country boat as the authorities failed to make any alternative arrangement after imposing a ban on plying of under 650-foot-long launches in certain coastal areas during the period of storms from March 15 to October 15. Photo: STAR
The ban on plying of small boats on 23 waterways in the coastal areas during the days of storm from March 15 to October 15 causes immense sufferings to lakhs of people as authorities have not arranged any alternative transport in the area. Following a survey 10 years ago, authorities identified some 9,000 km waterway in the coastal areas as 'Danger Zone' and a government circular in 2000 imposed the ban on plying of under 65-foot-long boats there during the seven months every year, BIWTA sources said. But in absence of any arrangement for alternative transport, people continue to travel on the routes by small launches and mechanised country boats, risking their lives. Earlier this month, local BIWTA authorities sent letter to every UNO offices and police stations in the region seeking necessary help to enforce the ban. On May 15 in 2005, single-decker launch Prince of Patuakhali capsized in rough weather on Patuakhali-Char Montaz route, killing over 80 people including a good number of children and women. Afterwards, BIWTC arranged a sea truck service on the route. But the service stopped only after two months due to unknown reason. Since then, there has been no approved water transport on three routes in the district during the seven months. However, several small boats including single-decker launches maintain communication between the coastal island areas and the main lands during the remaining five months from October 16 to March 15. Several lakh people living in over a hundred islands in seven upazilas of the district have to depend on mechanised small boats for movement.
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