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Watch load, launch owners warned

JULHAS RIPON
The government has warned launch owners against overloading vessels to avoid mishaps with the onset of the season of nor'westers.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) recently directed the launch owners to take precautions and comply with traffic rules to ensure safety in river routes, official sources said.
It also asked the owners to conform to guidelines for passengers to board and goods to load. Launches are not to board goods in the passenger deck and have been asked to check engine before leaving terminals.
If the launch masters receive any danger signal of possible storm during weather forecast of Bangladesh Betar, they are to drive launches along the bank instead of on the middle of the river to minimise loss in case of a mishap.
If the danger signal is too grave, the launch must be taken to safety.
At least 21 people have died so far
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in Kishoreganj in a launch capsize after it was hit by nor'wester.
Marine safety experts of the BIWTA said incompetence of the masters in driving launches is one of the major reasons behind big mishaps every year.
The tendency to ignore traffic rules and weather forecast contributes to fatal accidents.
The experts said accidents at night causes more losses of life compared to those in daytime. Launches lack safety instruments, especially lights.
The BIWTA asked launch owners to take additional safety precautions to avoid disaster at night.
Officials of the Meteorological Department said during this summer, nor'wester can strike any time anywhere. That's why, launch owners need to take extra measures, said officials at the Port and Traffic Department of the BIWTA.
Referring to the Kishoreganj capsize, officials said such accidents would be taking place if the owners and launch masters are not careful.
According to a BIWTA estimate, about 140 launches leave the Sadarghat terminal for nearly 40 destinations across the country while 100 launches anchor at the terminal everyday.
Allegations are there that officials of the Port and Traffic Department do not enforce the rules properly. The department is responsible for keeping an eye on loading of goods and boarding of passengers at the launch terminal,
A traffic department official at Sadarghat terminal however refuted the allegation.
"We do our best before the launches leave the terminal. Once it is on the way, the responsibility lies on the launch operators, that is, masters and drivers to see that safety measures are in place," he added.
Bangladesh Betar, prime source of weather forecasts for launches, broadcasts stale weather forecasts, an official at the Meteorological Department said.
He suggested such forecasts be updated every hour to give the launch masters a chance to sail to safety.