Death toll climbs to 23 in Munsiganj launch capsize

The death toll from Thursday’s launch capsize in the Meghna River in Gazaria upazila of the district rose to 23 with the recovery of 11 more bodies on Friday. Mohammad Saiful Hasan, deputy commissioner of Munshiganj, said divers pulled out five bodies on Friday morning while six more bodies at about 4:00am. The deceased could not be named immediately. Earlier, the Sureshwar-bound launch, ‘MV Miraj-4’, carrying over 200 passengers sank near Gazaria Launch Ghat in the Meghna on Thursday afternoon after it was caught by a violent storm, said Saiful. Twelve bodies were recovered from the river till 8:30pm. Besides, some 45-50 people managed to swim ashore after the accident, he said quoting locals. Three of the deceased were identified as Mamal Hossain, 50, of Naria upazila of Shariatpur district, Tumpa Begum, 30, and Setar Begum, 50. Two salvage ships — ‘Durbar’ and ‘Prataya’ conducted the rescue operation. However, 12 bodies were handed over to the family members of the deceased. –UNB, Dhaka.