Editorial

No warning system in launches

It's unbelievable!
The admission by the launch masters that they rely only on their wisdom during storms or cyclones leaves us speechless. In other words what we can assume from this is that the precious lives of hundreds of passengers they carry are in danger from the moment they board the launches. And such a revelation coming just under the heel of sinking of a launch in storm in Buriganga killing 149 passengers cannot be ignored either. That the launches have no system to warn them about storms once they are on their way only reveals the stark inadequacies in the system under which the launches operate.

It is totally unacceptable that there simply is no weather forecasting system or warning system on the launches. Especially in a time when wireless communication technology has brought the whole world closer. The blame for such callousness has to be shared by all -- the owners, operators, and most of all the authorities. Do they not know that mercurial changes in the weather resulting in storms or cyclones are totally unpredictable without an access to the existing technology? How could they not think about it earlier and continued to put the lives of thousands of innocent passengers in jeopardy? Why do we always wait for a disaster to happen before taking any action?

We know that in the cases of cyclones, a warning system is in place in the coastal areas where danger signals are announced about an impending calamity through loudspeakers and available media. Then why not a similar system for the launch operators? A mobile phone or a walkie-talkie in each of the launches should be enough to transmit messages in case of needs. At the same time, there must be successive periodic weather bulletins issued to the launch masters at the terminals. The authorities must be one step ahead in taking precautionary measures. We reiterate our demand for a comprehensive safety plan for the launch passengers to be put in place and, most importantly, implemented.