We commend the investigation of a civil committee into the MV Abhijan 10 launch fire on December 24, 2021, which found proof of negligence against 12 people: four government officials, four operators, and four owners of the launch. The result of the investigation by Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) comes after another probe by a government-formed committee that also found a number of people—including three officials of the shipping department and the BIWTA—responsible for the fire that claimed 49 lives. Both investigations pointed to the incredible negligence of those responsible for the safety of the launch.

The MV Abhijan 10 caught fire after its faulty engine burst into flames on the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi. But this could have been avoided if everyone involved had just played their part. For example, the launch was operating after a hiatus of three months, so why did the authorities not check its fitness before letting it sail again? It was also found that the dock authorities had replaced the launch's engines with older ones, without any official approval. To top it off, the two launch drivers, who brought it to shore after it had caught fire, reportedly did not anchor it. Instead, they fled and left those on the launch trapped in the fire. Add to this the fact that the launch was carrying double the number of passengers it should have, while the master of the launch failed to stop its journey at the Barishal launch terminal even though the heat at the lower deck could be felt by all.

While such terrible incidents on our rivers may seem sporadic, their number is not negligible. It shows how unfit the vessels operating across the country are, and how irresponsible those in charge can be. We must not forget the MV Mayur accident on June 29, 2020, when 34 people died as the launch hit a small vessel on the Buriganga River. If those responsible for these incidents are left unpunished, and if adequate measures are not taken to avoid their recurrence, we are essentially inviting more of such disasters and tragedies in the future.

Therefore, we urge the government to heed the recommendations listed by the civic probe committee. The fire service must check if a vessel is in order every three months and should provide clearance to a vessel's fire safety system before it can operate, while every passenger vessel must have Ansar members on board for security. Cameras should also be installed at key points so that no one can escape their responsibility to keep passengers safe.