Divers cry for rescue

Divers on a rescue operation in the River Turag near Salehpur Bridge of Amin Bazar in Savar on October 10 after a city bus plunged into the river.Photo: STAR

Two days after a teenage girl went missing in the river Someswari, the entire village of Durgapur in Netrokona swarmed the riverbank. They curiously watched a team of Fire Service and Civil Defence rescue divers attempt to salvage the body.
"As I prepared the gear I could almost feel the heartbeats of the villagers," said Md Alauddin, a veteran diver of Fire Service and Civil Defence, recalling an incident three months back.
The girl went missing while bathing in the river. A whirlpool was the only place in adjacent areas where the divers thought the victim's body might lie whirling.
Despite safety concern from his colleagues, Alauddin jumped in with a lifeline in the fierce whirlpool. In a few minutes, the villagers watched intently as he emerged with the body.
As gruesome as the task may seem, returning dead bodies to the distressed families from some of the most treacherous waters is Alauddin's profession for 20 years.
Fire Service and Civil Defence has only 25 divers like Alauddin for the entire country that saw 47 accidents in the waterways during the last 9 months and a loss of 77 lives.
This year four rescue divers were chosen for the prime minister's medal for their outstanding bravery.
Brig Gen Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah, director general of the fire service, said the divers have earned their names. “Sometimes we even get requests from other South Asian countries for assistance," he said mentioning the Nepalese government asked for Bangladesh's assistance after a German tourist went missing in Nepal.
Despite being national heroes and finest rescue workers, Alauddin and his colleagues work in appalling conditions. "The job comes with immense danger in the first place," said diver Md Masudul Haque.
In addition, understaffing often puts the divers under a lot of pressure involving frequent diving in a limited time, which is not recommended by doctors. This poses the risk of health problems, some potentially fatal, including hearing loss and liver, retina, heart damage and paralysis.
"Regrettably, the department has no medical expert who can provide special healthcare suited for the divers," he mentioned.
They are not entitled to insurance or compensation either. In case of accidents, the only assistance comes from employees welfare fund, which pays treatment costs partially. The divers get Tk 520 for risk allowance in addition to Tk 4,400 of their basic salary.
Masud alleged private insurance companies refuse to open life insurance policy for divers.
"We do not complain much about our incentives but lack of respect of the society for our profession often demoralises us," said Masud, who had to hide facts about his profession while getting married.
In the search for the bus that plunged into the river Turag on Sunday, fire service divers and other rescue workers had to calm angry relatives who accused them of delaying the rescue process. The divers had to work day and night to salvage the missing bus 54 hours after the plunge.
Mourning relatives often turn on divers when things are not as fruitful as expected. "During a search for a body the mourning relatives vent their grief and frustration on us," said another diver Md Azizul Haque.
Three months ago after an engine boat capsized in the Shitalakkhya, angry relatives attacked the divers leaving three of them grievously injured. "The current was too strong and we could not salvage any body for the whole day," added Aziz.
But nothing discourages these brave souls. "No matter how gruesome it may seem, someone has to recover bodies from capsized boats or pullout a missing teenager from the river. It is an essential work," said Md Abul Khayer, one of the winners of this year's prime minister's medal.
"And I will continue serving people in distress as long as my body permits."