Deadly launch fire: Vessel owner arrested from Dhaka’s Keraniganj

The owner of “MV Abhijan-10”, the launch which caught fire mid-river killing at least 40 people, has been arrested.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that Ham Jalal Sheikh was arrested from Dhaka on Monday.

“He has been detained from Keraniganj,” said the elite police unit’s spokesperson Khandakar Al Moin.

Dhaka Tribune

The arrest comes after the Marine Court in Dhaka issued warrants against eight people, including Sheikh, on Sunday.

The other owners are Shamim Ahmed, Russell Ahmed, Ferdous Hasan, while Reaz Ahmed and Khalilur Rahman were the masters of the vessel. Masum Billah and Abul Kalam were its drivers.

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There are four documented owners of the launch, Shipping Department’s Chief Inspector Shafiqur Rahman told the media after pressing charges on Sunday.

Dhaka Tribune

At least 40 people died in the launch inferno with terrified passengers leaping overboard and dozens including children still unaccounted for. At least 80 people have been hospitalized.

Abhijan 10 caught fire around 3am on Friday near Jhalakathi’s Gabkhan on the Sugandha River. The blaze engulfed the three-storey launch.

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Most of the passengers were asleep when the fire erupted. The vessel floated for some distance after the power was cut off before going up in flames.

Dhaka Tribune

According to documents of the case filed on Sunday, the engine room caught fire after crossing Jhalakathi’s Nalcchiti area. Lack of prompt action to douse the fire caused the flames to spread and burn the whole vessel.

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The launch did not have sufficient fire extinguishers, either. There was diesel in a barrel and cylinder stove for cooking outside the engine room, in violation of the rules.

Bangla Tribune

The launch was authorized to carry 420 people but survivors said it was overcrowded. 

One official estimated that up to 700 passengers were on board when it left Dhaka. Survivors, however, said that nearly 900 people were on board.