Death toll in launch inferno rises, probe body gets 30 days to submit findings
File photo shows a general view of the Bangladesh Supreme Court building Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 28 Dec 2021, 05:16 PMUpdate : 30 Dec 2021, 03:56 PM
The High court on Tuesday questioned the role of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in the launch fire on the Sugandha river that has cost 44 lives, so far, and asked the authorities to file in 90 days the documents of all river vessels operating in the country.
The documents include fitness certificates, updated route permits, licenses, and safety information relating to the vessels.
The court also asked the official probe body formed to investigate the causes of the fire to submit its findings in 30 days.
During the hearing of two separate writ petitions, the High Court said there was inactivity on the part of the BITWA.
“Noticing the condition of the ship, the officer gave permission for the voyage to get underway. Does BIWTA have any responsibility here?” the court asked.
The HC also mentioned the matter of checking fitness before launches are given permission for voyages.
The death toll from Friday's deadly launch fire off the coast of Jhalakathi rose to 44 with the recovery of two more bodies from the Sugandha River on Tuesday. Relatives of many missing passengers of the launch, which was allegedly running with a faulty engine, are still looking for their near and dear ones.
The bodies of the two unidentified people were fished out by firefighters from the waters adjacent to the Jhalakathi launch terminal at Shachilapur in the district on Tuesday, said Shafiq, deputy assistant director of the district fire service.
The deceased were a boy aged around 12 and a man aged around 32, according to Jhalakathi Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Of the two floating bodies recovered, the man’s face was burnt beyond recognition, and he was wearing an off-white sweater and jeans, said Shafiq.
"The bodies have been sent for autopsy," added the deputy assistant director of the district fire service.
Probe body asked to submit report in 30 days
In another development, the High Court (HC) has asked the probe body formed by the Shipping Ministry to submit its findings within 30 days.
The probe committee, following primary investigation, found that there were faults in the engine that led to the fire.
“If there is a weakness in the law applicable to shipping, this can be a matter of discussion. Relevant laws are old and need to be updated. There should be specific laws and regulations regarding compensation for accidents,” the court said.
The court also issued a rule asking why the failure to prevent the accident should not be declared illegal and ordered the district administration to take it into consideration if the victims of the Jhalakathi launch fire seek financial aid.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Naval Court sent two masters of the MV Obhijan 10 launch - Riaz Sikder, the master in-charge, and second master Md Khalilur Rahman - to jail after they surrendered in a case alleging negligence in the horrific blaze.
Another case has been filed over the fire by Monir Hossain, who lost his family in the incident. As many as twenty people, including the owners of the vessel, have been accused in the case filed with Jhalakathi police, Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam Shohag confirmed.
Launch Masters Md Riaz Sikder and Md Khalilur Rahman, Sarengs Md Masom and Kalam, Supervisor Md Anwar, Sukani Ahsan and Kerani (clerk) Md Kamrul are also among the accused named in this case.
Government agencies have so far unearthed several irregularities in the launch, which was operating without any fire safety systems in place.
Not only was the engine changed without authorisation, three of the four master-drivers of the launch did not have permission either.
Three more cases have already been filed over the matter. On Saturday, one Jahangir Hossain filed an unnatural death case while one Nazmul Islam Nasi filed another case with a Barguna court.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard members and firefighters continued their search operations in the Sugandha River for the fifth day in a row.
The police control room set up at the launch terminal provided information about 41 missing passengers, said Md Salauddin, a sub-inspector at Jhalakathi Sadar police station on Tuesday.
HC wants documents of all vessels in 90 days
The High court on Tuesday questioned the role of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in the launch fire on the Sugandha river that has cost 44 lives, so far, and asked the authorities to file in 90 days the documents of all river vessels operating in the country.
The documents include fitness certificates, updated route permits, licenses, and safety information relating to the vessels.
The court also asked the official probe body formed to investigate the causes of the fire to submit its findings in 30 days.
During the hearing of two separate writ petitions, the High Court said there was inactivity on the part of the BITWA.
“Noticing the condition of the ship, the officer gave permission for the voyage to get underway. Does BIWTA have any responsibility here?” the court asked.
The HC also mentioned the matter of checking fitness before launches are given permission for voyages.
The death toll from Friday's deadly launch fire off the coast of Jhalakathi rose to 44 with the recovery of two more bodies from the Sugandha River on Tuesday. Relatives of many missing passengers of the launch, which was allegedly running with a faulty engine, are still looking for their near and dear ones.
The bodies of the two unidentified people were fished out by firefighters from the waters adjacent to the Jhalakathi launch terminal at Shachilapur in the district on Tuesday, said Shafiq, deputy assistant director of the district fire service.
The deceased were a boy aged around 12 and a man aged around 32, according to Jhalakathi Fire Service and Civil Defence.
Of the two floating bodies recovered, the man’s face was burnt beyond recognition, and he was wearing an off-white sweater and jeans, said Shafiq.
"The bodies have been sent for autopsy," added the deputy assistant director of the district fire service.
Probe body asked to submit report in 30 days
In another development, the High Court (HC) has asked the probe body formed by the Shipping Ministry to submit its findings within 30 days.
The probe committee, following primary investigation, found that there were faults in the engine that led to the fire.
“If there is a weakness in the law applicable to shipping, this can be a matter of discussion. Relevant laws are old and need to be updated. There should be specific laws and regulations regarding compensation for accidents,” the court said.
The court also issued a rule asking why the failure to prevent the accident should not be declared illegal and ordered the district administration to take it into consideration if the victims of the Jhalakathi launch fire seek financial aid.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka Naval Court sent two masters of the MV Obhijan 10 launch - Riaz Sikder, the master in-charge, and second master Md Khalilur Rahman - to jail after they surrendered in a case alleging negligence in the horrific blaze.
Another case has been filed over the fire by Monir Hossain, who lost his family in the incident. As many as twenty people, including the owners of the vessel, have been accused in the case filed with Jhalakathi police, Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam Shohag confirmed.
Launch Masters Md Riaz Sikder and Md Khalilur Rahman, Sarengs Md Masom and Kalam, Supervisor Md Anwar, Sukani Ahsan and Kerani (clerk) Md Kamrul are also among the accused named in this case.
Government agencies have so far unearthed several irregularities in the launch, which was operating without any fire safety systems in place.
Not only was the engine changed without authorisation, three of the four master-drivers of the launch did not have permission either.
Three more cases have already been filed over the matter. On Saturday, one Jahangir Hossain filed an unnatural death case while one Nazmul Islam Nasi filed another case with a Barguna court.
Meanwhile, Coast Guard members and firefighters continued their search operations in the Sugandha River for the fifth day in a row.
The police control room set up at the launch terminal provided information about 41 missing passengers, said Md Salauddin, a sub-inspector at Jhalakathi Sadar police station on Tuesday.
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