We are really shocked to know the sad news of 'MV Miraj-4' sinking at Meghna yesterday due to heavy storm. We pray for the departed soul and express deep sympathy to the bereaved family. Hearing the sad news honorable Minister, Ministry of Shipping and Higher authority of BIWTA visited the accident area, formed an investigation committee & declared a lump-sum compensation for the bereaved family.

But this is not the only accident in Bangladesh. It is happening frequently and concerned authority are playing same rule case by case. However, it’s not a permanent solution. This kind of accident happens due to bad weather or carries more passengers than capacity.

Our question is: how a water boat/launch leaves the terminal while bad weather and carry more passengers than their capacity from authorized terminal? If BIWTA & concerned higher authority play strong & strict role, launch owner will be bound to obey the rules of BIWTA and thus we will not see any more launch accident in future. If launch owners do not maintain, authority will take exemplary punishment against them, so that other can learn from them.

We hope that, BIWTA & concerned other higher authority will play strict role and set a permanent solution to avoid this kind of unwanted disaster in future.

Md. Abdullah-Al-Mamun (Badshah)
Daffodil International University (DIU)

Footpath is the narrow pathway beside main road and people use this to reach their destination safely by walking and avoid the rush of main road and keep the road free for other vehicles.

But footpath of our Dhaka city is being used for different kinds of business like operating bus counter, tea stall, temporary shop, begging, extended part of a shop, etc. Moreover now a days it is also been used by motor bikers, who drive their bike to avoid heavy traffic jam of main road. Sometimes, essential footpaths are dug by concerned divisions for establishing telephone, sewerage, gas and/or electricity. For these kinds of reason the main objective of footpath is not solved. Common people are bound to avoid footpath and use main road. Sometimes it also causes road accidents.

These kinds of illegal activities are going on freely because of unconsciousness of our local administration, some corrupted people & political leaders. They are getting percentage from the illegal footpath user and protect them.

To solve the mail purpose of footpath and for the safety of the general footpath users, we must keep the footpath free form all kinds of illegal usage. For that our local administration must be alert to prevent these kinds of illegal use of footpaths. Last of all we all need to more conscious in using footpath from our personal-self.

Newspaper Published: 
The Daily Financial Express
December 2, 2013 (Monday)
Link: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2013/12/02/6792

Md. Abdullah-Al-Mamun (Badshah)
Daffodil International University (DIU)