A BRIEF INTERPRETATION OF ACCIDENTS IN BANGLADESH INLAND RIVER ROUTES: (An Approach from Practical Point of View)

Abstract

Inland river transportation, the safest form of transportation in developed countries is the agent of
catastrophe in Bangladesh. Over the past decades there have been a number of launch (passenger ferry)
accidents in which several thousand people met watery graves. Literature review shows that analyses were
carried out mostly from the viewpoint of academic research. To enlighten the roles of professionals like
Naval Architects and Law Enforcing Agencies, the reasons behind the accidents in Bangladesh Inland
Waterways have been simplified and the nature of actions required for preventing the accidents have been
identified from practical point of view. Data analysis of major accidents shows that prevention of passenger
vessels' accident will drastically reduce the number of casualties in Bangladesh Inland Waterways. The two
repeatedly reported causes of accidents are overloading and inclement weather. Analysis shows that
consideration of overloading condition in design will have no effect in practical scenario and consideration
of higher wind pressure in design is not feasible from the socio-economic aspect of Bangladesh. Role of
proper design and construction has been identified by dividing the accidental phenomenon into two phases,
capsizing and sinking of vessels.