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Death toll in Shitalakkhya launch capsize reaches 35


Bangladeshpost
Published : 06 Apr 2021 11:58 PM

BSS, Narayanganj

Six more bodies were recovered from Shitalakkya river Tuesday morning a day after wrapping up two-day salvage operation, following a Munshiganj-bound passenger launch capsized, climbing the death toll to 35.

The bodies have been floating between Char Syedpur and Shah Cement Factory area in the river since 6:00am, said Younus, Sub-Inspector of River Police in Narayanganj.

On information, river police searched and recovered the bodies till 10:30am, he said.

With the latest recovery, the death toll rose to 35 as the leaders of the launch owners association claimed that over 70 passengers were on board of the passenger launch.

Among the six, the five deceased were identified as Nazmul Haq Khokon, 40, son of Torab Ali hailed from Baghmamud area of Munshiganj, Azizul Haq, 55, son of Rafiqul Haq of Mirpur-11 of Dhaka, Kamrul Islam 29, from Pachpara village of Chandraganj upazila under Lakshipur, Abdur Rashid, 73, son of Afaz Uddin of Khaskanda village under east shilmandi, Munshiganj and Haradhan Saha, 48, son of Gopi Saha of Malpara under Munshiganj Sadar.

The identity of another male person, believed to be 35 years, is yet to be ascertained.

“It is now underway to handover these identified bodies to their relatives,” said the police official.

The launch named Sabit Al Hasan left Narayanganj Launch Terminal for Munshiganj around 5:56pm on Sunday. Around 15 minutes later, it sank near the third Shitalakkhya Bridge at Koylaghat of Syedpur area when it was hit and dragged by a tanker.

Immediately after the accident, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Fire Service and Civil Defence, Coast Guard and Police joined the rescue operation.