The death toll from the launch capsize in the
Sandhya River in Banaripara upazila of the district on Wednesday rose to 14 with the recovery of 12 more bodies.
Mustafizur Rahman, deputy director of River Security and Traffic Department of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), said divers retrieved the 12 bodies from the river in the
afternoon.
Three of the deceased were identified as Sukhdeb Mallik, 35, of Ujirpur, Sagar, 15, and Monwara Begum, 45, of Banaripara upazila in the district.
Earlier, divers recovered the body of Kohinur Begum, 40, hailing from
Banaripara, in the morning, while Saleha Begum,60, who was rescued
from the river died at the upazila health complex.
However, some 13 passengers are still missing, he said.
Earlier in the day, the Uzirpur-bound launch `ML Oishi` from Banaripara, with 60-70 passengers on board sank in the river in Banaripara upazila of the district as a heavy chunk of mud from the
erosion site on the riverbank fell on the vessel just after it reached Dasherhat Launch Terminal around 11:15am, said officer-in-charge of Banaripara Police Station Ziaul Islam.
Of the passengers, 7-8 managed to swim ashore after the incident.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Dr Gazi Saifuzzaman visited the
spot and announced to provide Tk 10,000 to the families of each of
the deceased. — Barisal, Sept 21 (UNB)
