‘Master’s poor skill responsible for launch accident’

The launch accident that took place on Saturday was caused by the master’s poor skill and inefficiency, according to the probe committee’s preliminary report. The committee also pointed out that there was absence of various mechanical equipment, including rudder and GPS system. Members of the probe committee revealed this while talking to this correspondent yesterday.

A man was killed and 15 others were injured when two passenger launches collided in the Meghna river on Saturday. Poor visibility and lack of skill of the launch master are  the reason behind the collision between the Dhaka-bound MV Manik-4 and the Chandpur-bound MV Bogdadia-13. Both launches have been detained and are now under Keraniganj police custody. The authorities concerned, however, are yet to ensure the trial of the owner of the launch ‘Pinak-6’, Abu Bakkar Siddique, which sank on August 4, 2014, in  Padma river at Louhajang of Munshiganj district. Over 100 lives were lost in the tragic incident.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Department of Shipping (DoS) formed two separate committees to probe Saturday's accident.

BIWTA joint director Syful Islam (traffic) and engineer and ship surveyor of DoS Obayed Ullah Ibn Bashir are leading the probe committees on behalf of their respective departments.

DoS director general Commodore Syed Ariful Islam yesterday visited the Sadarghat launch terminal to inspect the two launches involved in the accident.

“We’ve detained the launches. We won’t allow them to ply until their repair work is completed,” he told this correspondent.

Asked on the probe committee report, Ariful said: “We’ve received the preliminary report. Another committee has been formed today. We've asked it to submit the report within 15 days.”

Masters poor skill responsible for launch accident

The launch accident that took place on Saturday was caused by the masters poor skill and inefficiency, according to the probe committees preliminary report. The committee also pointed out that there was absence of various mechanical equipment, including rudder and GPS system. Members of the probe committee revealed this while talking to this correspondent yesterday. A man was killed and 15 others were injured when two passenger launches collided in the Meghna river on Saturday. Poor visibility and lack of skill of the launch master are the reason behind the collision between the Dhaka-bound MV Manik-4 and the Chandpur-bound MV Bogdadia-13. Both launches have been detained and are now under Keraniganj police custody. The authorities concerned, however, are yet to ensure the trial of the owner of the launch Pinak-6, Abu Bakkar Siddique, which sank on August 4, 2014, in Padma river at Louhajang of Munshiganj district. Over 100 lives were lost in the tragic incident. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Department of Shipping (DoS) formed two separate committees to probe Saturdays accident. BIWTA joint director Syful Islam (traffic) and engineer and ship surveyor of DoS Obayed Ullah Ibn Bashir are leading the probe committees on behalf of their respective departments. DoS director general Commodore Syed Ariful Islam yesterday visited the Sadarghat launch terminal to inspect the two launches involved in the accident. Weve detained the launches. We wont allow them to ply until their repair work is completed, he told this correspondent. Asked on the probe committee report, Ariful said: Weve received the preliminary report. Another committee has been formed today. Weve asked it to submit the report within 15 days.