Some of the penalised launches belong to influential political high-ups including the prime minister's son, a state minister and leaders of Bangladesh Launch Owners Association, according to sources in the Department of Shipping that launched the drive on August 8.

The launches and cargo vessels were fined mainly for lacking trained pilots, drivers, registration and survey certificate, overloading of passengers and goods, risky loading and unloading and not keeping adequate safety equipment handy.

The amount of fine is more than Tk 12 lakh and around Tk 10 lakh has already been realised.

Besides, around 500 passengers were made to disembark from 20 launches and goods were also unloaded during the drive.

The sources pointed out many launches and cargo vessels owned by political stalwarts are operating for years without registration or survey certificate. No action was taken against those for unknown reasons.

Three of the penalised launches -- MV Coco-1, MV Coco-3 and MV Coco-5 -- belong to the prime minister's son and Joint Secretary General of the BNP Tareque Rahman. These were fined for lacking up-to-date survey certificate and for overloading.

Two other launches -- MV Shampad -- owned by State Minister for Religious Affairs Mosharef Hossain Shajahan and MV Mayuri belonging to chairman of the launch owners association Kalimullah were fined for overloading.

Moreover, MV Suravi-4 and MV Suravi-5 belonging to vice-chairman of the launch owners association Golam Moula were fined for irregularities.

The special drive is not making much headway because a strong crime syndicate based at Sadarghat launch terminal is out to foil it, threatening officials involved in it and giving prior information to the faulty vessels. The syndicate includes a section of officials and employees of the Department of Shipping and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), sources alleged.

Many launches now avoid coming to Sadargahat and take passengers and goods from Fatullah, Pagla and Munshiganj terminals, they mentioned.

The drive started following the capsize of MV Nasreen-1 in the Meghna, killing more than 500 people. It will continue till the situation improves further, an official said.

At present, the drive covers Sadrghat, Munshiganj and Naryanganj launch terminals. Similar drives will be conducted at other terminals including those in Barisal and Khulna soon, he added.