Three more bodies, including that of a child, were pulled out of the Shitalakshya River on the third day of the rescue operation on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the horrific launch capsize to 11.
Two of the bodies were recovered from the river in the morning, according to Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin. He said that they would continue the rescue drive until the body of the last missing person was found.
Divers found the bodies of Abdullah Al Zaber, 30, from Madanganj Shah Cement area and Arohi, 3, from Horihopur area in Narayanganj.
In the evening, the body of Musleh Uddin Hatem, 55, was spotted near Shah Cement Factory at Char Muktarpur of Munshiganj, confirmed Sub-Inspector Hafizur Rahman of Narayanganj River Police.
Rescuers were looking for another passenger of “ML Ashraf Uddin”, named Zobair Hossain, 31.
The bodies were handed over to their relatives following procedures, said SI Hafizur.
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On Monday, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) salvaged the sunken launch but no bodies were found inside it.
The BIWTA also suspended for an indefinite period the movement of small sunken-deck launches on Narayanganj-Munshiganj route from Tuesday, causing immense suffering to commuters who prefer the route because of low cost.
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On Sunday afternoon, the launch was heading towards Munshiganj with at least 50 passengers on board when it was struck by freight vessel “MV Rupshi-9”, owned by City Group, eventually causing it to sink in the Shitalakshya River near the coal market in Sonakanda.
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Around 20 people were able to swim ashore after jumping off the launch while at least a dozen were reported missing.
Meanwhile, the eight crew members of the cargo vessel, who were arrested in two cases, were placed on a three-day remand on Monday. The cases were filed for negligence and reckless driving.
On the other hand, the authorities have formed three probe committees to look into the accident.