A woman's body has been found after six members of a family went missing when a boat capsized in the Buriganga River after it was hit by a launch.
Sadarghat River police station OC Abdur Razzak said: “The deceased was identified as Jamshida. Her body has been sent to the Sir Salimullah Medical College morgue for autopsy.”
He also said that the rescue operation was stopped for the day after night fell. They will resume operations on Saturday morning.
Five people including three children still remain missing.
Shahjalal, 35, a survivor, was found with both legs severed by the launch propeller. He is undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. His wife and their children are missing.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has formed a three member probe committee to investigate the matter.
Dhaka River port BIWTA’s Joint Director AKM Arif said the problem is caused by the location of the wharves. He said there are plans to relocate them upstream.
Deputy Minister of Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim visited the spot on Friday morning.
He said: “We will investigate and identify anyone responsible for the incident. We will take stern action and act to ensure such accidents do not happen in the future.”
Local police and fire service sources said the boat collided with a launch near the Sadarghat Launch Terminal around 10pm Thursday, and promptly sank.
Although the boatman was able to swim ashore, the passengers were not so lucky. The missing include Shahida, 28 — along with her two daughters Meem, 8, and Mahi, 6 — Jamshida's husband Delwar, 35, and their three-month-old daughter.
A fire service official said the rescue operations were hindered by boats and launches operating along the river.
