Public dissemination of probe reports would also ensure transparency in the activities of the probe committees as well as the regulatory authorities of river vessels, they added.

Sheba Bangladesh Foundation organised the roundtable titled 'Preparedness to prevent river accidents during stormy weather' at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium in the city.

Former adviser to the caretaker government ASM Shahjahan said probe reports should not be kept a secret in the name of official secrecy.

He proposed forming a commission to find out why so many probe committees have failed to submit reports.

Dr Abdur Rahim of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) identified four factors responsible for frequent accidents of river vessels -- vessel design, operating environment, human factors and enforcement and educational factors.

Vessel design factor involves faulty design and construction, mechanical failure of vessels and insufficient and flawed navigational instruments in the vessels, while human factor involves overloading and incompetence of the captain, master and other staff, Rahim pointed out.

Lack of weather forecasting facilities and mass awareness is also responsible for river accidents, he added.

According to survey reports, most accidents take place between March and July and in October, he said, adding that the authorities should take additional measures during this period to avoid accidents.

Director General of the Department of Shipping AKM Shafiq Ullah stressed the need to improve the skills of professionals involved in operating the water vessels and to raise awareness of the people.

Former chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Syed Marghub Murshed, Editor of the Naya Diganta Alamgir Mohiuddin, Adviser to Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Mesbah Uddin Ahmed and former chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Dr Reaz Hasan Khondkar also spoke at the roundtable chaired by former chief engineer of LGED Kamrul Islam Siddique.