Staff Reporter
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has come under scrutiny for oper-ating ferries that are either unfit or beyond their service years, posing significant risks to the transport of vehicles and passengers nation-wide. Investigations reveal that the vast majority of BIWTC’s fleet, with 47 out of 53 ferries lacking valid charters, is aged over 40 years. Additionally, 14 of the 18 Ro-Ro ferries (large ferries) in operation are without the requisite fitness certificates, contravening the Department of Shipping (DoS) reg-ulations that prohibit the issuance of fitness certificates to ships exceeding 40 years of age.
Despite these regulations, ferry services continue unabated, further compounded by the absence of necessary safety equipment, ampli-fying the potential for accidents. Insider sources from BIWTC high-light discrepancies in the repair records of the Shah Amanat ferry, which capsized at Paturia Ghat on October 27, 2021, and the sinking of the Rajnigandha ferry on January 16. It was noted that the Rajnigandha had undergone com-prehensive repairs four months prior, expected to extend its service life. However, reports from the dockyard indicated that only the propeller was fixed, not addressing the ferry’s overall condition, raising concerns over accidents resulting from imbalanced vehicle loading.
Historical data points to a pat- tern of negligence, with incidents like the 47-year-old ferry Kakli col- liding with the Padma Bridge pil- lar, despite lacking a fitness certifi-
cate. Similarly, the Thobal, Raipura, Ranikhet, and Raniganj ferries, dat- ing back to as early as 1925, contin- ue to operate without the required certifications. The Amanat Shah ferry, in service for 44 years since its introduction from Denmark in 1980, exceeded its 25-year lifespan in 2005, with a subsequent extension expiring in 2020.
The Shimulia-Banglabazar and Daulatdia-Paturia routes, primarily served by these ferries, have been operating without valid fitness certificates since July 25, 2014. Despite the cessation of services on the Shimulia-Banglabazar route, all 18 Ro-Ro Ferries con-
tinue on the Daulatdia-Paturia route, riddled with various technical malfunctions, including ineffective mechanical steering systems in emergencies.
Most of the ferries, constructed in the 1980s and lacking in maintenance, underscore the pressing need for regulatory oversight and immediate action to ensure the safety and reliability of Bangladesh’s inland water transport services. Attempts to contact BIWTC officials for comments have so far been unsuccessfu
