Passenger launch MV Miraj 4, with around 250 passengers on board, capsized on Meghna river near Daulatpur of Gajaria upazila in Munshiganj yesterday afternoon and 13 bodies were recovered till filing of the report.
The launch was heading towards Shureshwar of Shariatpur from Dhaka and capsized after being hit by a storm around 3pm, Deputy Commissioner of Munshiganj Md Saiful Hasan Badal told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said a total of 13 dead bodies were recovered from the capsized vessel while BIWTA, Fire Service, Coast Guard divers and police joined the rescue operation.
The deputy commissioner claimed nearly 100 passengers were able to swim to the shore and 39 were ill when rescued. They were given first aid.
“The district administration had given Tk20,000 to families of each of the deceased passengers,” he added.
A three-member probe committee, headed by engineer and ship surveyor of the Mercantile and Marine Department Sirajul Islam, was formed following the accident. The committee was asked to submit report within seven working days.
Of the deceased, two were identified as Jamal Sikder and Tumpa Begum.
The launch was carrying 200-250 passengers, said Coast Guard officials.
Gajaria police station Sub-inspector Makbul Hossain said the launch capsized at Daulatpur estuary.
“We learned about the accident around 3pm and a team of police set off for the spot right away,” he said.
“The exact death toll could be known when the sunken ship is rescued. We hope the vessel could be lifted up the water within 1-2 hours,” Badal said at 10:45pm.
Rescue ship Protyoy reached the spot at 6:30pm and Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also visited the scene.