The death toll from Friday’s launch capsize in Meghna rose to 14 as rescuers recovered 12 more bodies on Saturday. Rescuers recovered two bodies in the place after the launch, the ML Saros, had capsized in the river at Gazaria in Munshiganj after being hit with a cargo vessel carrying sand about 7:30am Friday. The launch was going from Narayanganj to Matlab in Chandpur.
Families of the passengers of the launch gathered on the river bank in search of their relative from Friday to Saturday morning.
On Friday, rescuers recovered the bodies of Mayna Akhter, 26, and a-half-year-old Prince at Matlab.
Others recovered dead on Saturday were Sahajalal, 38, Sumon, 30, Majibur Rahman, 45, Moni Akter, 15, Hajera Begum, 48, and Helena, 18, all from Matlab, the Gazaria police officer-in-charge, Jahangir Hossain, said.
Ibrahim Khalil, 8, of Narayanganj, three-year-and-a-half-old Sanzid and his sister Mim, 8, of Kachua in Chandpur, Tania, 17, of Chandrakanda in Chandpur, Moktar Hossain, 35, and Chaina Begum, 26, of Kachua, were recovered dead.
The passengers, who could swim ashore, said that the launch was carrying 75 to 85 people.
The MV Rustam salvaged the launch about 3:15pm on Saturday, Fire Service and Civil Defence duty officer Mohammad Ali said. About 100 divers took part in the rescue operation.
Families that still have their members missing gathered on the river bank wailing. Hafizur Rahman, 36, of Narail, Shahnaj, 20, Abul Hashem, 35, and his wife Shefali Begum were still missing.
The police continued with their search, Shahabuddin Khan, superintendent of police in Munshiganj, said.
The Munshiganj district administration handed over the bodies to their famileis and distributed Tk 10,000 against each of the deceased in burial cost.
The shipping ministry has set up a four-member committee, led by the ministry’s deputy secretary Hafuzur Rahman, to investigate the incident and submit a report to the ministry in seven working days, the BIWTA chairman, Md Shamsuddoha Khandkar, said.
He also said that the BIWTA would give Tk 40,000 against each of the deceased to the families in compensation.
Courtesy of New Age
