The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has salvaged “ML Ashraf Uddin,” the launch that sank in the Sitalakshya after being hit by a freight vessel on Sunday.
Rescue vessel, “Prottay” lifted the vessel around 5:35am on Monday morning but no bodies were found inside.
At least six people died and dozens remained missing as the launch capsized in Narayanganj's Shitalakshya River after being 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.
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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 of a heart attack, said police.
Three other launch passengers – two women and a girl child aged 7-8 years – are yet to be identified.
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.
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BIWTA Narayanganj Zone President Badiuzzaman Badol told the media that the freight vessel fled as the launch sank.
The River Police later seized the vessel from Munshiganj’s Gajaria and detained the nine people on board.
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.
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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 the Fire Service till 8am on Saturday night.
Locals at the scene said at least 15 to 20 passengers of the launch were able to swim ashore.
