Court hears tale of negligence by Jhalakathi launch drivers
Two drivers of MV Obhijan 10 have been sent to jail
Dhaka Tribune
Tribune Report
Publish : 02 Jan 2022, 09:30 PMUpdate : 02 Jan 2022, 09:30 PM
The drivers of MV Obhijan 10 neglected their responsibilities by not trying to save the passengers on the night of the mid-river inferno incident that claimed at least 48 lives, a public prosecutor tells a court.
At the Marine Court, Public Prosecutor Bellal Hossain made the statement while arguing against the bail pleas of two drivers of the launch yesterday.
“Not only did they neglect their responsibilities, their role in the aftermath of the fire was presumptuous. The fire was initially reported to have started from the engine room,” he said.
Bellal Hossain told the court that it should reject their bail pleas and sent the duo to jail to ensure justice.
Later, the court sent the two drivers to jail in connection with a case filed over the fire incident on the Sugandha River near Jhalakathi Sadar upazila.
The court was set up on the eighth floor of the BIWTA Bhaban in the city’s Motijheel after the launch fire on December 24.
Special Metropolitan Magistrate Joynab Begum of the Dhaka’s Marine Court passed the order after the two accused, Md Masum Billah, in-charge driver, and Abul Kalam, second driver, surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.
Defence counsels argued that their clients were respectful to the law as they surrendered before the court.
On December 28, the same court sent the two masters of the launch Riaz Sikder (master in-charge) and sixth accused Khalilur Rahman (second master) to jail when they surrendered before it.
Earlier, the court issued arrest warrants against eight persons, including four owners of the ill-fated MV Obhijan 10 after Md Shafiqul Islam, chief inspector of Department of Shipping, filed the case with the Marine Court.
The other accused are four owners – Md Hamjalal Sheikh, Md Shamim Ahmed, Md Rasel Ahmed, and Ferdous Hasan Rabbi.
Court hears tale of negligence by Jhalakathi launch drivers
The drivers of MV Obhijan 10 neglected their responsibilities by not trying to save the passengers on the night of the mid-river inferno incident that claimed at least 48 lives, a public prosecutor tells a court.
At the Marine Court, Public Prosecutor Bellal Hossain made the statement while arguing against the bail pleas of two drivers of the launch yesterday.
“Not only did they neglect their responsibilities, their role in the aftermath of the fire was presumptuous. The fire was initially reported to have started from the engine room,” he said.
Bellal Hossain told the court that it should reject their bail pleas and sent the duo to jail to ensure justice.
Later, the court sent the two drivers to jail in connection with a case filed over the fire incident on the Sugandha River near Jhalakathi Sadar upazila.
The court was set up on the eighth floor of the BIWTA Bhaban in the city’s Motijheel after the launch fire on December 24.
Special Metropolitan Magistrate Joynab Begum of the Dhaka’s Marine Court passed the order after the two accused, Md Masum Billah, in-charge driver, and Abul Kalam, second driver, surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.
Defence counsels argued that their clients were respectful to the law as they surrendered before the court.
On December 28, the same court sent the two masters of the launch Riaz Sikder (master in-charge) and sixth accused Khalilur Rahman (second master) to jail when they surrendered before it.
Earlier, the court issued arrest warrants against eight persons, including four owners of the ill-fated MV Obhijan 10 after Md Shafiqul Islam, chief inspector of Department of Shipping, filed the case with the Marine Court.
The other accused are four owners – Md Hamjalal Sheikh, Md Shamim Ahmed, Md Rasel Ahmed, and Ferdous Hasan Rabbi.