At least 28 people, including eight women and seven children drowned as a passenger launch capsized with more than 200 passengers on board during a heavy monsoon storm on the Meghna river near Munshiganj on Thursday afternoon.
District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer M Abdur Rahman confirmed the recovery of the 28 bodies to the Dhaka Tribune.
He said: “The bodies have been identified and handed over to family members.”
The launch was heading towards Shureshwar of Shariatpur from Dhaka and capsized after being hit by a storm around 3pm, Deputy Commissioner of Munshiganj Md Saiful Hasan Badal told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said a total of 21 dead bodies were recovered till 3:25am from the capsized vessel while BIWTA, Fire Service and police joined the rescue operation.
The deputy commissioner claimed nearly 100 passengers were able to swim to the shore and 39 were ill when rescued. They were given first aid. However, locals claimed that some 40-45 people managed to swim ashore.
“The district administration had given Tk20,000 to families of each of the deceased passengers,” he added.
A three-member probe committee, headed by engineer and ship surveyor of the Mercantile and Marine Department Sirajul Islam, was formed following the accident. The committee was asked to submit report within seven working days.
The launch was carrying 200-250 passengers, said Coast Guard officials. Gajaria police station Sub-inspector Makbul Hossain said the launch capsized at Daulatpur estuary.
Rescue ship Pratyaya reached the spot at 6:30pm. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and former deputy speaker Col (retd) Shawkat Ali, MP also visited the scene.
– See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/may/15/launch-capsizes-over-200-board#sthash.BuGxR9N6.dpuf
Source: Dhaka Tribune
