Waterways risky in the south
Navigation markings either washed away by flood or out of order
Our Correspondent, Barisal
Waterway journey in the southern region has became very risky as river are overflowing while most of the buoys, beacons and other navigation markings have either washed away by current or under water or out of order. Navigation at night is virtually impossible, said officials at Barisal port and sources in launch owners and workers association. Banks can not be identified in most of the rivers during daytime also, they said. Over 100 big and small ply different river routes in the region, carrying about one lakh passengers. But a good number of water transports have no trained pilot. The Barisal port office issued an order on July 21 for plying of water transports at night with pilots trained by BIWTA. Golam Mawla, vice- president of Barisal Launch Owners Association claimed that it is not safe even for trained pilots to ply vessels at night now because routes can not be followed in absence navigation markings. When contacted, BIWTA sources said they are trying their best to a replace the lost out of order navigation markings. They advised launch owners to engage trained pilots and to keep life-saving equipment in vessels.
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