A cargo vessel has capsized in the Kirtankhola river after it was hit by a launch near the Barisal port on Saturday night. No casualties have been reported.
The vessel, Karnafuli-5, was carrying raw materials from Chittagong for Anchor Cement Factory when the launch Sundarban-7 struck about 9:20pm.
Barisal river port officer and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Deputy Director Mohammad Shahidullah confirmed the incident.
The launch left Barisal port for Dhaka around 8:50am with 800 passengers, he added. The incident took place about eight kilometres off from the port near Charmonai.
The cargo vessel carried eleven crews, all of whom have been rescued unharmed, owner of the Karnafuli-5 Mohammad Salauddin said.
Sundarban-7 was carrying about 800 passengers, but none of them has been harmed, owner of the launch Saidur Rahman Rintu said. The launch has been damaged at the bottom.
The launch has been harboured safely, the vessel's Supervisor Mohammad Harun said. Rescue vessels have rushed to the spot for aid.
The launch's driver has been able to harbour the vessel safely on a shoal, a passenger on board, boarder of cabin 216, Gazi Riaz told the Dhaka Tribune.
