The High Court on Thursday asked the police, Rapid Action Battalion, and Ansar to ensure that no launch could take passengers and goods beyond its capacity so as to prevent accidents.
The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Md Nuruzzaman asked the director general of shipping to explain why he would not be prosecuted on charge of contempt of court for not complying with the directives the High Court had issued in 2003, 2005, and 2009 to ensure safe launch journey.
The court also asked the government to take appropriate measures to prevent launch accidents, especially during the Eid-ul-Fitr.
It ordered to put in place a series of safety measures including running of fit and properly designed launches by efficient staff, inspecting passenger launches and all inland water transports on a regular basis to ensure that those were properly designed and built and were furnished with life-saving equipments, putting an end to plying of unfit launches, and ensuring availability of buoys and beacon lights.
It also ordered taking all the safety measures stipulated in the laws.
The court ordered the home secretary, shipping secretary, director general of shipping, chief inspector of the shipping department, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority chairman and director, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation chairman, and the Launch Owners' Association president to ensure implementation of the directives.
It also asked them to report it on the compliance with the directives by October 17.
Appropriate legal actions will be taken against any of them for any negligence in implementing the directives.
The court passed the order after hearing a supplementary petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association in the furtherance of a writ petition lodged by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh and the BELA in 2001.
In the original writ petition, the High Court had issued a series of directives in 2003, 2005, and 2009 for preventing launch disasters.
The court also came down heavily on the offices of the attorney general and solicitor for not taking appropriate steps for implementation of the earlier HC directives.
Source : New Age
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