Rather, he demanded an allocation of at least Tk 200 crore a year to 'make everything all right'.

"I shall resign if a major (launch) accident occurs after such an allocation is made," the minister said while talking to a group of journalists at his ministry office.

The shipping ministry must also be fully empowered to take up projects and use funds according to its requirements, he added.

The minister said this when asked about his resignation against the backdrop of a series of major launch disasters during his tenure.

Death toll in a launch capsize on Sunday in the Meghna near Chandpur rose to 76 and around 100 remained unaccounted for. Another launch sank nearby at about the same time. A launch disaster at the confluence of the Padma and the Meghna last year left 600 people killed.

The parliament standing committee on the ministry of shipping at a meeting on Monday also grilled the shipping minister.

Asked about actions against officials who failed to do their duties to check launch accidents, the minister replied, "You will see a series of firing and transfer of people within a couple of weeks." He however did not mention the names or posts of people going to face the actions.

Akbar Hossian admitted there is a bunch of corrupt people in his ministry. "But no corrupt and inefficient officials will continue in his ministry after the actions," he pledged.

The minister emphasised introduction of a local classification society for the inland shipping sector to bring a permanent solution to the problem of faulty design of ships. A vested quarter in his ministry and the Department of Shipping are creating various obstacles in this regard, he told a questioner.

But he vowed to introduce the society within two months.

The minister yesterday issued a number of directives for launch operators. "No passenger vessel would be allowed to ply without going through a stability test of its design," he said.

Legal actions will be taken if any dockyard or firm builds any launch without stability test, he added.

The directives said all launches must keep mobile telephone sets and must not sail without knowing weather condition in the wet seasons.

The minister also asked Bang-ladesh Inland Water Transport Authority to provide mobile telephone set to its officials at major launch terminals to inform launch operators about weather condition.

A Tk 7 crore project proposal for installing seven radar stations is pending with the Planning Co-mmission. When approved, the radar stations will be set up near major launch terminals to avert accidents, he said.

On the questions raised about the probe committee on Sunday's launch disaster, the minister said he is going to form another investigation committee comprising high official of his ministry.