At least six bodies including of two kids were recovered from the spot of a launch capsize in the Shitalakhaya river under Narayanganj Sadar police station in the district.
A passenger launch bound for Munshiganj district that sailed from Dhaka sank in Char Syedpur area being hit by a lighter ship named Rupshi-9 on Sunday afternoon.
Of the bodies, three are of female, two of children and the remaining one of a sixty-year old man.
At about 3.30 pm on the day, the Munshiganj-bound passenger launch carrying 50-60 passengers was moving toward its destination but sank in the river being hit by a lighter ship, according to survivor Rayhan who could manage to swim ashore. On information, diver teams of BIWTA and Fire Service and Civil Defence are continuing their rescue operation.
Officer-in-Charge of Narayanganj river police station Moniruzzaman and Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence Abdullah Al Arefin said that the rescue operation would continue until all the missing are rescued.
The relatives of the ill-fated are wailing on both the banks of the Shitalakhya river.
UNB adds: Meanwhile, the Ministry of Shipping formed a three-member probe committee headed by Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, joint secretary of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), to investigate the accident.
The committee has been asked to submit itsreport in three working days, said a release issued from the ministry.