State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said the collision of two launches on the Buriganga River did not seem to be an accident rather it was carried out intentionally.
“The investigation is going on. People responsible for the incident will face action,” he said while speaking to journalists at Sadarghat Launch Terminal in Dhaka on Monday.
Meanwhile, the state minister also said families of the deceased victims would get Tk10,000 now for burial and Tk150,000 each as compensation.
Earlier in the morning, rescuers recovered at least 30 bodies – 19 men, eight women, and three children – after a launch named ML Morning Bird sank near the Farashganj ghat when another larger vessel reportedly rammed into it.
“From what we have seen in CCTV footages, it was kind of murder. It seems it was carried out intentionally,” he said.
"If the investigation finds it as an intentional act, we will take necessary action against the people involved," he added.
