Due to the effects of Cyclone Remal, a disaster signal was issued for 7th November on Saturday night in Mongla. Subsequently, on Sunday morning, a disaster signal for 10th November was issued, causing panic to spread. Over a hundred shelters have been prepared. The sea and rivers are turbulent. Those involved in rescue operations are working tirelessly. However, trailers carrying passengers across the river are indifferent to the situation.
Since the disaster signal on 7th November, passenger ferries have been continuously crossing the Mongla river with reckless abandon. Despite rules limiting the number of passengers on each trailer, they have been overloaded fourfold. At least one trailer carrying about 80 passengers sank while crossing from one bank to the other, resembling a sinking ferry. The accident occurred at 9 am on Sunday (26th May) at Mongla Ghat.
Although some passengers managed to swim to the riverbank, concerns are raised about others. Naval police, fire services, and coast guards are conducting rescue operations in the river.
Talking to several eyewitnesses, it was learned that from Sunday morning, trailers have been carrying hundreds of passengers. The majority of them were workers of the 'VIP' factory. Each trailer had 70 to 80 passengers. The drivers of the trailers, tempted by the opportunity amid the storm, continued to take extra passengers across the river. After the accident, relatives of the drowning passengers rushed to the scene. They damaged the toll collection counter under municipal control. Following this incident, trailer operations on the Mongla river have been suspended.
When asked about the presence of extra passengers on the trailers amid the storm, Nur Islam Babul, Editor of the Mongla River Crossing Trailer Owners Association, stated, "What can we do if passengers themselves climb onto the trailers?" he said, disconnecting the call.
The majority of the passengers on the sunken trailers were workers of the VIP factory in Mongla EPZ. Regarding the decision to keep the factory open amidst the storm signal on 7th November, Mizanur Rahman, Manager of Human Resources at the VIP factory, claimed, "The factory was closed immediately after the storm signal was issued on 7th November." When asked why workers were allowed to go to the factory in the morning, he said, "I'm in a meeting. Please write whatever you want."
Some workers, on the condition of anonymity, complained that Mizan Sir from VIP had pressured them over the phone to go to the factory amidst the storm.
Nishat Tamanna, Executive Officer (UNO) of Mongla Upazila, stated, "We are continuously monitoring for news of the trailer accident. CC TV footage from the municipality is being observed to see if any passengers are missing."
END/V7N/AHB/DK/
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