The launch sank in the blink of an eye, is what the survivors of Sunday’s launch capsize in Narayanganj’s Shitalakshya had to say about the horrific ordeal.
“My wife and I were trying to get out when the cargo vessel suddenly hit the launch,” Abu Taher, one of the survivors on board, told Dhaka Tribune.
He added that as the water pressure became overbearing, he had to let go of his wife’s hand. He was able to swim ashore but his wife is now amongst the missing.
Relatives of the those missing or dead in the Shitalakshya launch capsize breakdown in tears as rescue efforts continue for the second day on Monday, March 21, 2022 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka Tribune On Sunday, the ML Ashraf Uddin sank with nearly 50 passengers after being struck by a freight vessel MV Rupshi-9. Rescuers have so far recovered seven bodies.
Survivors said they warned the launch master of the approaching cargo ship but he was confident he could overtake the vessel.
In no time, the launch sank with a large number of passengers while around 20 managed to swim ashore.
Adnan Dewan, 18, a student of Professor Dr Iazuddin Ahmed Residential Model School and College, was one of the lucky few who survived.
“When the vessel struck the launch, I did not think I would come back alive. I barely clung to a bottle and a little later the locals rescued us,” he said.
Rescue operations continues at the Shitalakshya on Monday, March 21, 2022 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneBarek, another survivor, reiterated how the launch master disregarded the passengers’ warning.
Md Billal Hossain, 45, the launch master is still missing. So is Hatem, 65, who had gone to Narayanganj to see a doctor but never returned.
“He called after he boarded the launch, saying he was coming home,” Hatem’s distraught daughter told the correspondent.
“But we found his phone switched off after 10 minutes. Then we saw the news of the accident on TV,” she added.
Meanwhile, the MV Rupshi-9 that fled after hitting the launch, was later detained with nine people on board by the River Police.
Rescuers are seen pulling out a body from the Shitalakshya after a launch capsized on Sunday, March 20, 2022 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneAccording to witnesses, both the vessels were heading towards Munshiganj and the launch was in the lead.
The accident took place when the cargo vessel hit the launch from behind.
A video footage of the accident shows the ill-fated passengers throwing their arms in the air and desperately crying for help.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), River Police, Navy, Coast Guard, Red Cross, and members of the Urban Community Volunteer conducted rescue operations in the area alongside the Fire Service.
The sunken ship was lifted out of the waters early Monday morning, but no bodies were found inside. Search operations continued for a second day, but it’s unclear how many were still missing.
Relatives of the those missing or dead in the Shitalakshya launch capsize breakdown in tears as rescue efforts continue for the second day on Monday, March 21, 2022 Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneAs of Monday morning, seven bodies have been pulled out of the Shitalkshya.
The deceased have been identified as dredger businessman Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan, 65, Arifa Begum, 35, her two-year-old boy Mahid and Shilpi Rani, 19.
The rest of the bodies are yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, the shipping ministry and the Munshiganj district administration formed two separate committees to look into the matter.
The ministry’s three-member probe committee is led by a joint secretary. It has been asked to submit its report in three working days.
The other committee – headed by an additional superintendent of police – consists of seven members. It has been given seven days to submit its findings.