At least six people died and dozens remained missing as a launch capsized in Narayanganj's Shitalakshya River after it was hit by a cargo vessel on Sunday afternoon.
Two of the deceased have been identified as dredger businessman Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan, 65, and two-year-old boy Mahid.
Joynal, of Demra in Dhaka, was going to Munshiganj. He jumped off the launch, named “ML Ashraf Uddin”, and swam to the shore but died in a heart attack, say police.
Three other launch passengers – two women and a girl child aged 7-8 years – could not be identified immediately.
Narayanganj Fire Service Deputy Director Abdullah Al Arefin confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune around 6pm.
Bodies of the deceased were kept at Bandar police station.
On April 6 last year, the bodies of 34 people were recovered from the Shitalakkhya River after a launch capsized being hit by a cargo vessel in Narayanganj.
Another 34 passengers were killed on June 29, 2020, when “MV Morning Bird” sank in the Buriganga River after colliding with Mayur-2, a larger launch.
Cargo seized, probe bodies formed
Meanwhile, the River Police members seized “MV Rupshi-9” from Hosendibagh Dockyard in Gajaria, Munshiganj.
The master of the cargo vessel and eight others were also detained, according to Zahidul Alam, the district superintendent of police.
The Shipping Ministry and the Munshiganj district administration have formed two separate committees to look into the matter.
The ministry’s three-member probe committee is led by a joint secretary. It has been asked to submit its report in three working days.
The other committee – headed by an additional superintendent of police – consists of seven members. It has been given seven days to submit its findings.
At night, the authorities announced the suspension of launch operations on Narayanganj-Munshiganj route for an indefinite period.
Several ships have been on the Shitalakshya river to look for missing people after a launch with at least 50 passengers on board capsized on Sunday, March 20, 2022 Dhaka TribuneHow it happened
According to fire officials, “ML Ashraf Uddin” with at least 50 passengers on board was on the way to Munshiganj. It sank after being hit by “MV Rupshi-9” in the Syedpur Al Amin Nagar area around 2:20pm.
BIWTA Narayanganj Zone President Badiuzzaman Badol told the media that the freight vessel fled as the launch sank.
The cargo ship, owned by City Group, was heading towards Munshiganj from City Mill in Bandar area.
Witnesses said that both the vessels were heading towards Munshiganj and the launch was in the lead. The accident took place when the cargo vessel hit the launch from behind, giving the master of the small vessel no chance to change its direction.
Video footage of the accident shows the ill-fated passengers of “ML Ashraf Uddin” throwing their arms in the air and crying for help when the launch began to capsize.
It took the launch no time to submerge in the water and only a handful of passengers could make it to the bank.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), River Police, Navy, Coast Guard, Red Cross, and members of the Urban Community Volunteer conducted rescue operations in the area alongside Fire Service till 8pm.
Salvage ships “Rustom” and “Prottoy” were trying to pull out the sunken launch.
Officials fear that casualties may increase even though some passengers managed to swim ashore.
Locals at the scene said at least 15 to 20 passengers of the launch were able to swim ashore.
Authorities warn of action
Mrinal Kanti Das, member of parliament from Munshiganj-3 constituency, said that the culprits behind the accident must be brought to book.
“This kind of incident is taking place repeatedly. I don’t want to term it an accident. It is a sheer murder,” he told reporters.
Munshiganj SP Zahidul said: “The river has become narrower in recent times due to the establishment of a number of structures including industries on both sides of the Shitalakshya.
"The number of vessels has increased at the same time. Moreover, the vessels on the route do not abide by traffic rules, and this is why such accidents are repeatedly taking place frequently."
