Launch operators are cashing in on the huge rush of passengers and overloading their vessels on Mawa-Kawrakandi route in the Padma river risking lives of thousands ahead of eid.

The authorities concerned are turning a blind eye to the nuisance, though the government has repeatedly announced of taking stern actions against overloading.

In the past, many launches sank due mainly to overloading. Even passenger vessel Pinak-6 sank in the turbulent Padma on August 4, 2014 while carrying more than 200 people against its capacity of 85. Forty-eight bodies were recovered and 62 were missing in that disaster.

During a visit to the Mawa launch terminal yesterday it was seen that most of the launches were carrying passengers more than double of their capacity.

This correspondent randomly selected some launches at the terminal, checked their capacity and counted the passengers on board.

The launch MV Princes has the capacity to carry 169 passengers and left the terminal with around 350 passengers on board around 12:00pm.

The MV Shaon Express has the capacity to carry 189 passengers. But it was carrying around 360 passengers.

The Zihan and Zayan has the capacity of carrying 148 passengers, but it was carrying around 400 passengers.

When such overloading was going on, several members of the Bangladesh Inland Transport Authority (BIWTA) and police were seen on duty at the terminal.

They were not checking the capacity of the launches or the number of passengers on board. They were rather patrolling the terminal and asking launch operators in loudspeakers not to overload.

The Department of Shipping (DoS) is responsible to issue fitness certificates and fix passenger-carrying capacity of the vessels, while the BIWTA is responsible to check plying of unfit vessels and overloading.

Talking to The Daily Star, DoS Chief Engineer Fakhrul Islam said carrying double passengers than its capacity imposes a high risk to the passengers. It may cause a major disaster anytime.

BIWTA Chairman Mohammad Mozammel Haque, however, claimed they have taken all necessary steps to check overloading.

Speaking anonymously, staff of more than a dozen launches said eid holiday is the prime time for their business. If they carry just equal number of passengers of their capacity, they would end up earning very poor profit.

The most alarming situation is that the launch operators think carrying double passengers of the capacity is not risky at all.

“We can understand the weather, water flow of the Padma and balance of the vessel. We think it would not be a problem if we carry some extra passengers,” said a crewmember of a launch asking not to be identified.

However, most of the passengers, who were crossing the Padma through speedboats, were seen wearing lifejackets.

On average, 250 people are killed every year in accidents in the waterways across the country, said National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) that works for passengers' safety.

HIGHWAYS AND FERRIES

On the third day of the nine-day eid holiday, holidaymakers yesterday also enjoyed almost hassle-free journeys as no major traffic gridlock was reported.

Although there was a huge rush of vehicles, the authorities concerned smoothly managed the ferry services on the Mawa and Paturia ghats.