DHAKA: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan Sunday alleged that the last four-party alliance government had steered the shipping sector through a wrong course into perils using their muscle-power.

"The then shipping minister, Col (retd) Akbor Hossain, led such acclivities," he said.   
 
He made the allegation at a view-exchange meeting on `actions to be done to prevent waterway accidents: responsibilities of authorities and public awareness’ at the National Press Club.

Right to Workers and Consumer Safety and Public Accountability in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust organized the meeting with assistance of the Australian High Commission.        

An antiquated launch converted to a large water vessel under the name Coco, boarding more passengers than its original capacity, caused accidents one after another, the minister said.

“But it never faced trial. As a result, the sector went out of government`s control,” he added.  

Claiming their restoration of the control, the minister said, “The accused would not have any scope to escape during my tenure”.

The shipping minister unveiled a plan that waterbus would also be launched on the Dhaka-Chandpur route in the near future.

BDST: 1700 HRS, SEPT 5, 2010