Katka Beach tragedy

The seas south of the Sundarbans are not the only dangerous waters within Bangladesh's territorial boundaries. Indeed, the entire Bay of Bengal region is well-known for its inclement weather and often turbulent tidal conditions. Sadly, incidents of drowning are all too common.

A few simple rules as to when and how these dangerous waters can be ventured into, and a concerted effort on the part of the authorities to implement these rules would go a long way towards eliminating horrific incidents like last Saturday's drowning. The forest authorities in the case of the Sundarbans, and the relevant authorities elsewhere, must be vigilant in policing the region and ensuring that all rules are complied with, both for the safety of the tourists and visitors and for the continued health of the area concerned.

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The authorities should be empowered to act to rein in those who are acting in a manner that might bring harm to tourists. Nor should there be any hesitation or inability on the part of the authorities to enforce the rules. It is no point having rules if they are not enforced. The companies that run trips to the Sundarbans and elsewhere also have a responsibility to see that the people they take are protected and kept away from risk.

Let us not have to wait for another calamity before we have common-sense rules for navigating and swimming in the hazardous stretches of the Bay of Bengal in place and fully implemented.