2 launches set ablaze at Keraniganj

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Two launches were set ablaze and six others looted on the Buriganga yesterday as thousands of shop owners and workers at South Keraniganj demonstrated against the closure of a jetty near Sadarghat launch terminal.

Attacks from the protesters left at least 40 people including three cops and 30 launch staffers injured. A good number of vessels were vandalised during the demonstrations.

The launch operators kept their vessels away from the spot and suspended services for nine hours protesting the ransacking and torching of vessels. The services resumed at 8:45pm.

Badizzaman Badal, acting chairman of Bangladesh Abhyantarin Nou-chalachal Jatri Paribahan Sangstha, told The Daily Star last night, “As the BIWTA assured us of meeting our demand for security and keeping the jetty closed, we resumed launch services.”

Hundreds of passengers were stranded for hours following the suspension of launch services.

However, during a meeting earlier in the afternoon between BIWTA officials, deputy commissioner of Dhaka, joint forces and business leaders it was decided that one of the pontoons blocking the Simpson Road Masjid Ghat jetty would be removed immediately while a permanent terminal for boats would be set up at a convenient place within the next 30 days.

Meanwhile, shops and factories of the area remained closed yesterday. Traders of the area threatened to go for tougher actions if the pontoons were not removed. They said they would not open their trading houses unless the jetty was reopened.

A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incidents, said Mahbubul Alam, director (port and transport) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Local businessmen said around 10,000 garment shops at Simpson Road Masjid of South Keraniganj depend mainly on shoppers from the capital. They claimed closure of the mooring would affect their businesses since it would mean hassles for those who come to their markets using the lone pier (gudaraghat).

Witnesses said local shop owners and workers flew into a rage as soon as they found out that BIWTA had closed the Simpson Road Masjid Ghat on the other side and set up three pontoons in its place early yesterday.

Police said around 30,000 demonstrators massed on the riverbank opposite Sadarghat by 9:30am. Soon they began throwing projectiles at the launches moored nearby.

At one stage, hundreds of them went on the rampage through the vessels. They set fire to two triple-deckersMV Obhijan-3 and MV Riaz-4.

Firefighters and coastguards rushed to the scene immediately and tried to douse the flames. But they could do little as the demonstrators kept pelting them with stones.

“A large group of demonstrators got onto my launch and beat me up along with 12 others including five ansars on board,” said Abul Kalam Azad, master of MV Obhijan-3.

Talking to The Daily Star last night, he said he and five of his staff dived into the river while the ansars were confined to the launch for about an hour.

Fearing attacks, a good number of launches opted to anchor far off the terminal.

Around 100 policemen were deployed in the area by 10:00am, but they stood as mere onlookers in the face of violent protest by such a mammoth crowd.

Launch owners have accused the law enforcers of inaction.

Superintendent of Police in Dhaka Mahbubur Rahman said had they resorted to tough measures there would have been loss of life and serious injuries.

South Keraniganj police early today told The Daily Star that a case was being lodged in this regard accusing 20,000 to 30,000 unknown people.

Tensions eased at around 11:30am after BIWTA officials had contacted the business leaders over phone and assured them of removing the pontoons set up overnight.

Later, another group of firefighters reached the scene and brought the fire under control at around 1:00pm.

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