BIWTC blames incompetence of master, steersman

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has blamed the incompetence of the master and steersman of the Ro Ro ferry Birshreshtha Jahangir for its collision with a pillar of Padma bridge.

BIWTC temporarily suspended master Delowarul Islam and steersman Abul Kalam Azad in an order issued on Tuesday. It said departmental cases will be lodged against them.

According to the order, it would have been possible to avoid the accident if the in-charge master and steersman had operated the ferry with competence. They should have operated the ferry with caution. Such a collision with the pillar of Padma bridge is not acceptable at all. It proves their incompetence.

A five-member probe committee headed by Md Rashedul Islam, director (technical) of BIWTC, has been formed to find the reason behind the collision. The committee has been asked to submit the detailed probe report within the next three working days to the BIWTC chairman.