The minister for shipping, Shahjahan Khan, on Sunday informed parliament that a total of 352 people were killed in accidents on waterways in last two years.
Responding to a question from AM Mahbubuddin Khokan, Shahjahan said 244 people died in 2009 and 108 people died in 2010—mostly in ferry capsize and launch accidents.
He said the government was aware of the hazards in river transport and took measures to contain accidents on the waterways, including departmental vigilance, operation of mobile courts during Eid and monsoon and amending and updating rules concerning river transport.
Replying to another question from Mezbahuddin Farhad, Shahjahan Khan said there were 12 roll-on roll-off ferries under Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation which was less than the requirement. Ten of the ferries were on operation at Aricha sector and two in Mawa sector.
In response to a query from Mollah Jalal Uddin, the minister said the BIWTC has four coastal passenger carriers and four passenger carriers on inland routes. He said the government has taken initiatives to procure two more passenger carriers for inland routes.
The minister also said a project of circular waterways around the capital was under implementation. In the first phase of the project, development of 29 kilometere waterway from Sadarghat to Ashulia has been carried out at a cost of Tk 36 crore.
The second phase of the project, 40 kilometeres of waterway between Ashulia and Kanchpur was ongoing which would require expenditure of Tk 65 crore. The project will be completed by 2012, he said.
Replying to a question from Zafrul Islam, he said the capacity of Chittagong port container yard was more than the requirement.
He informed that at present Bangladesh Shipping Corporation has 13 vessels, two of them being used for lightering crude oil from mother vessels. The remaining 11 vessels are used for carrying import-export goods.
The minister said arrival of vessels to Mongla port has increased due to appropriate moves taken by the government. In 2009-2010, some 156 vessels called on the port and till April 2011, the number was 256.
Source : New Age
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