Says Shipping Secy
'Disobedience of Directives Caused Bus to Plaunge into Padma River'
Collected Photo
Shipping Ministry Secretary Zakaria said on Saturday that the failure to comply with safety directives was the primary cause behind the recent tragic accident where a passenger bus of 'Souhardya Paribahan' plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at Rajbari’s Daulatdia Ghat.
He said strict measures would be implemented in the future to prevent such occurrences.
The Secretary made these remarks on Saturday (May 16) afternoon while responding to questions from journalists after inspecting the Daulatdia Ferry Ghat facility.
He pointed out that the failure to properly adhere to safety protocols significantly heightened the risk of accidents, pointing specifically to a notable lack of discipline during the boarding and disembarking of passengers and vehicles.
The Shipping Secretary announced that to ensure passenger safety, the directive requiring all passengers to disembark before a vehicle boards a ferry will be strictly enforced. Additionally, initiatives are being taken to modernize ghat management. He expressed hope that visible changes would be brought to the ghats within the next two months following Eid.
He emphasized that the government is actively working to make waterway transportation safer and more modern. He highlighted that the strategic importance of waterways remains high in the context of the global economy, especially as their use for cargo transportation continues to expand. He also shared that a specialized plan has been formulated for the smooth movement of cattle-carrying trawlers and vehicles ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) were also present during the inspection.
Notably, on the afternoon of March 25, the 'Souhardya' passenger bus lost control while boarding a ferry at Daulatdia's Terminal No. 3 and plunged into the Padma River. The vehicle rapidly transformed into a death trap, resulting in the recovery of 26 bodies from the submerged vessel.
