Suing authorities for marine disaster
Khandaker R Zaman, Allseas Shipping Limiteds, Dilkusha Commercial Area, Dhaka
It has not been long since the media was overwhelmed with the demise of 600 or so passengers in the m/v Nasrin-1 disaster. Both print and electronic media were covering the incident like what vultures do to the dead. It is now well proven that the media has failed miserably to follow up the matter and our so called civil society or the hollow human rights organisations are content to put the matter into oblivion. While the media, the civil society and the human rights organisations should have instituted a movement for compensations to the victims' families-- and at the same time for the demand for justice for the poor who were victims of unsafe crafts that violated safety regulations and disregarded the agonies of the victims-- they have preferred to go into hibernation until the next major disaster. We have become nothing but a hypocrite society where we are happy to run after the rich and the powerful for a piece of bone and turn in millions in their mourning when they perish. Thus we spend sleepless nights and spend millions in anticipation of a plane disaster because that craft carries the rich and the powerful. Nobody cares about the poor Kalimuddins who perished with m/v Nasrin-1 and nobody seems concerned about the plight of their dependants who had only the deceased Kalimuddins to earn the bread. The mafia and the politicians thrive and exalt in their savage power while the sick and dilapidated society dance to their tune. Has the government really gone that dumb and blind? I felt a great sense of joy at the High Court's directive on the DMCH and Ramna OC to show cause (DS 02 Sep/P 11) for failing to treat a critically ill person and my thanks go to the compassionate lawyer who filed the public interest litigation. I only wish some compassionate lawyer will take up the launch disasters and the loss of hundreds of lives under the same litigation and move the honourable court to direct the government to pay compensation to victims' families for allowing unfit launches to ply and jeopardising lives of unfortunate passengers. And, at the same time, a stern and immediate direction must be issued to the government and its respective organs to ensure that the launches, which do not comply with safety regulations, must not carry passengers. I shall be willing to assist any courageous lawyer with my humble knowledge in ships and shipping to institute a successful legal action for the benefit of the poor families who lost their beloved.
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