More than 20 dead as launch capsizes after collision with cargo vessel in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Apr 05: At least 26 people died after a small launch carrying over 100 passengers capsized after colliding with a cargo vessel in Bangladesh's Shitalakkhya river, according to a media report on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday evening at Narayanganj district, about 16 km southeast of Dhaka.

While five bodies were recovered on Sunday, the Navy, Coast Guard, fire service and police recovered a total of 21 bodies on Monday, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The passenger vessel, ML Sabit Al Hasan, sank after colliding with the cargo ship, SKL-3, at the mouth of the Syedpur Koyla Ghat on the Shitalakkhya River in Munshiganj.

Police and onlookers said the cargo vessel fled the scene after the collision, it said. The launch was en route Munshiganj, the report said. A seven-member committee headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has been formed to investigate the incident, Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Mostain Billah said.

The district administration will give a compensation of Tk25,000 (USD 296) to each of the deceased's family for the burial process, he added. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has also formed a four-member to probe the mishap, the report said.

The launch had an estimated 150 passengers. Port Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Deepak Chandra Saha confirmed that 50-60 of them were able to swim in the two banks, but three of them had to be rushed to the hospital.

Narayanganj District Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Abdullah Al Arefin said due to the storm, they were late in starting the rescue work. The rescue work is still ongoing, he said.