14 dead as launch capsizes in Barisal

40 passengers still missing

At least 14 people, including three women and a child, were killed and 40 others went missing after a launch capsized in the Shandhya river in Banaripara upazila of Barisal yesterday.
Thirteen of the deceased were identified as Kohinur Begum, 60, Sagar Mir, 25, Mozzamel Mia, 60, Sukhdev Mallik, 40, Rabeya Khatun, 45, Rehena Begum, 30, Firoza Begum, 50, Joynal Howlader, 60, Hira Begum, 26, Razzak, 60, Shanta, 10, Sattar, 25 and Shahana Begum, 35.
Mustafizur Rahman, deputy director of River Security and Traffic Department of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said divers retrieved 13 bodies from the river while another one died at hospital. The victim was identified as Saleha Begum, 60.
Most of the victims were from Banaripara and Uzirpur upazilas. Their bodies were pulled out of the river by divers of the local fire-fighting unit.
The launch, which was carrying around 60 passengers at the time of the accident, had been plying on the Banaripara and Habibpur river route for a long time without any route permit and fitness certificate.
Terming the launch as a ‘trawler’, BIWTA Banaripara port official Mustafizur Rahman said, “The trawler didn't have any route permit and fitness certificate. It was plying on the river route illegally.”
Sahed Mia, one of the survivors, said the one-storey launch left the Banaripara Ghat around 10:30 am amid heavy downpour and strong currents. When the launch was about to anchor at Dasherhaat Ghat around 11:45am, the passengers were preparing to get down. Suddenly, a big chunk of the bank collapsed on the launch, causing the vessel to sink immediately, he added.
Members of the local administration rushed to the spot  to conduct the rescue operation with the support of fire services, Rapid Action Battalion and police. The divers were able to trace the launch about 100 yards away from the place of the accident. Eleven bodies were immediately pulled out from the launch.
Police opened a camp where the bodies were kept, and the name of the victims and missing persons were written on the board. Nine bodies have already been handed out to their relatives, said Ziaul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Banaripara police station.
The Local administration primarily announced to provide Tk. 10,000 to family members of the victims. Besides, a nine-member probe committee, led by additional district magistrate Jakir Hossain, was formed to investigate the incident.
Local administration sources said the rescue operation was stopped after several attempts. They also said the salvage vessel ‘Nirvik’ started from Barisal around 6:30pm to salvage the trawler.
Meanwhile, another trawler capsized in the Shandhya river around one km south of the Dasherhaat point when it was hit by a launch.Ttwo persons of the trawler missing after the incident.
Police sources said MV Morning Sun-5, a passenger launch plying on the Bhularhat-to-Dhaka river route, was heading towards Sadarghat. Around 5:30pm, the launch hit the trawler and the latter capsized immediately.
Later, police chased the launch and seized its papers. The launch was allowed to carry its passengers to Dhaka.

 

14 dead as launch capsizes in Barisal

40 passengers still missing

At least 14 people, including three women and a child, were killed and 40 others went missing after a launch capsized in the Shandhya river in Banaripara upazila of Barisal yesterday. Thirteen of the deceased were identified as Kohinur Begum, 60, Sagar Mir, 25, Mozzamel Mia, 60, Sukhdev Mallik, 40, Rabeya Khatun, 45, Rehena Begum, 30, Firoza Begum, 50, Joynal Howlader, 60, Hira Begum, 26, Razzak, 60, Shanta, 10, Sattar, 25 and Shahana Begum, 35. Mustafizur Rahman, deputy director of River Security and Traffic Department of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said divers retrieved 13 bodies from the river while another one died at hospital. The victim was identified as Saleha Begum, 60. Most of the victims were from Banaripara and Uzirpur upazilas. Their bodies were pulled out of the river by divers of the local fire-fighting unit. The launch, which was carrying around 60 passengers at the time of the accident, had been plying on the Banaripara and Habibpur river route for a long time without any route permit and fitness certificate. Terming the launch as a trawler, BIWTA Banaripara port official Mustafizur Rahman said, The trawler didnt have any route permit and fitness certificate. It was plying on the river route illegally. Sahed Mia, one of the survivors, said the one-storey launch left the Banaripara Ghat around 10:30 am amid heavy downpour and strong currents. When the launch was about to anchor at Dasherhaat Ghat around 11:45am, the passengers were preparing to get down. Suddenly, a big chunk of the bank collapsed on the launch, causing the vessel to sink immediately, he added. Members of the local administration rushed to the spot to conduct the rescue operation with the support of fire services, Rapid Action Battalion and police. The divers were able to trace the launch about 100 yards away from the place of the accident. Eleven bodies were immediately pulled out from the launch. Police opened a camp where the bodies were kept, and the name of the victims and missing persons were written on the board. Nine bodies have already been handed out to their relatives, said Ziaul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Banaripara police station. The Local administration primarily announced to provide Tk. 10,000 to family members of the victims. Besides, a nine-member probe committee, led by additional district magistrate Jakir Hossain, was formed to investigate the incident. Local administration sources said the rescue operation was stopped after several attempts. They also said the salvage vessel Nirvik started from Barisal around 6:30pm to salvage the trawler. Meanwhile, another trawler capsized in the Shandhya river around one km south of the Dasherhaat point when it was hit by a launch.Ttwo persons of the trawler missing after the incident. Police sources said MV Morning Sun-5, a passenger launch plying on the Bhularhat-to-Dhaka river route, was heading towards Sadarghat. Around 5:30pm, the launch hit the trawler and the latter capsized immediately. Later, police chased the launch and seized its papers. The launch was allowed to carry its passengers to Dhaka.