The allocation was made for several projects under the next annual development programme (ADP), according to sources in the Ministry of Shipping.

Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain expressed satisfaction over the special allocation and hoped the situation will improve significantly after implementation of the projects. He, however, committed to step down if any major disaster takes place after the allocation.

The projects include Tk 9.86 crore to launch a ship model testing laboratory, Tk 5.27 crore to install weather forecast centres in important places along the river routes, Tk 25 crore to modernise old passenger launches, Tk 25 crore to rehabilitate three passenger ships running on the coastal belt and Tk 20 crore to rehabilitate two dredgers under the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

The minister said the project implementation work is going to start on July 1 in the next fiscal year.

Akbar earlier blamed frequent launch disasters on shortage of funds, seeking Tk 200 crore for development in shipping sector.

Unofficial estimate shows that around 4,000 passengers were killed in ferry disasters in one decade. However, official figure shows the number to be 3,000 since 1977.

Faulty design, lack of government supervision and river routes without any demarcation of danger zones were the main reasons of frequent launch disasters. The government made the allocation after two major launch disasters that killed more than 100 passengers on the river Meghna near Chandpur last week, sources said.

The government, meanwhile, cancelled the probe committee formed by the Department of Shipping with a surveyor as the leader of the team, following newspaper reports questioning its fairness. Shipping Secretary Ismail Zabiullah from abroad ordered to cancel the committee and appoint another person to lead the team.

Following the instruction, the department cancelled the committee and formed a new one headed by Ali Imam, principal of Marine Training Institute, the sources added.