A collision between a launch and a pedal ship of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation in the River Kirtankhola in Barisal left five people including two women dead and 10 others injured early Monday.
Two of the deceased were identified as Sima Aktar, 20, from Morrelganj in Bagerhat, and Tamanna, 13, of Kawnia under Barisal City Corporation.
The bodies were sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue for post-mortem examinations. Among the injured, five were admitted to the hospital.
Barisal district administration formed a seven-member probe committee led by Abul Kalam Azad, additional deputy commissioner, to look into the matter, said Gazi Md Saifuzzaman, Barisal deputy commissioner.
The committee has been asked to submit its report by three working days, he added.
Zainul Abedin, master of PS Mahsud, blamed the master of MV Suravi-7 for the accident as he violated river traffic signal.
The pedal ship master said the accident took place about four kilometers off Barisal river port around 4:00am while Morrelganj-bound PS Mahsud via Barisal was crossing Charbaria point.
The pedal ship, packed with home-goers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, was carrying over 500 passengers.
Triple-deck passenger launch MV Suravi-7, which was returning Dhaka empty, hit PS Mahsud leaving five of its passengers dead on the spot and others injured, he said.
The motor vessel, however, continued its journey towards Dhaka after the accident. PS Mahsud was tugged to the port by tug-boat Durbar around 9:00am.
The bodies were recovered by fire service men using gas-cutter from crew cabins, said Faruk Hossain, Barisal station officer of fire service and civil defense.
Passengers who escaped the accident, were sent to Barisal port by BIWTC vessel MV Madhumati and they started for their destinations by alternative transports, said Mustafizur Rahman, Barisal river port officer and also deputy director in charge of passenger safety and traffic of BIWTA.
Source: New Age
