Illegal boats a threat to Sandwip commuters

Travelling by waterways during turbulent weather is never a good experience, but for the residents of Sandwip – an island located along the southeastern coast of Chattogram, the ordeal is life threatening.

Islanders commuting to the mainland and back on a regular basis rely heavily on repurposed fishing and cargo vessels, which do not carry life jackets, meet any of the safety standards, and have no approval from the relevant authorities for transporting passengers.

Local residents claim that a certain influential quarter is illegally operating unsafe boats in this area, and they are also preventing commuters from getting onto the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation’s (BIWTC) vessels.

Though carrying passengers on fishing boats is illegal, this is happening under the authorities’ noses.

On the issue, the state agency’s Deputy General Manager (Commercial) Gopal Chandra Mozumder said, “Last year, the BIWTC – which ran only a few routes in the coastal area – provided new ship MV Ivy Rahman on the Kumira-Guptachhara route for Sandwip residents.

“But the owners of illegally-run boats in the area are depriving the islanders from having safer journeys.”

Insiders told The Business Post that around 30 speed boats, mechanized wooden fishing and cargo vessels are illegally transporting passengers on this route.

Khademul Islam, a resident of Sandwip Island, said, “The boats are very unsafe as there are no roofs over the passengers’ head to protect them from rain or scorching sunlight.

“Though plying the rough seas, these boats sometimes carry additional cargo along with passengers, but never keep life jackets or safety equipment on board during their journeys.”

He further said, “A certain influential quarter has created an unsafe environment at the harbour, preventing people from getting on board the BIWTC vessels. The sea is now very rough, and accidents are just waiting to happen.”

According to the World Bank, 65 million people in the country, coastal, haor and hilly areas are dependent on river water of which only ten percent of the people travel by government vessels.

Aminur Rasul Babul, secretary general of the Nirapad Noupath Bastobayan Andolon, said, “Less
than 10 per cent of people traveling by waterways in Sandwip and surrounding coastal areas are using BIWTC vessels.

“Illegal vessels in these areas are transporting people, animals and cargo on the same boats, which makes the Sandwip waterways very dangerous. Commuters are risking their lives, and being overcharged as well.”

A boat capsized Sandwip channel left over a dozen people dead in April of 2017, and many have gotten into accidents while plying this waterway since then.

Sources say the BIWTC recently issued several letters to the officers-in-charge and UNOs of Sandwip and Sitakunda to take action against illegal speedboats and mechanized vessels, but the authorities concerned have yet to take any firm action against illegal vessel owners.

Commenting on the matter, Chittagong District Council Chairman MA Salam said, “I do not know whether these boats are illegal or not.”