6 killed in 2 water vessels accidents
News Desk :
At least six passengers were killed and 15 others injured when water vessels collided in Chandpur and Narayanganj districts amid dense fog on Friday.
One of the collisions occurred around 2am in the Nilkamal Bangla Bazar area of Haimchar upazila in Chandpur, along the Meghna River’s boundary waters, confirmed Chandpur River Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) ASM Iqbal and Sadarghat River Police In-charge Sohag Rana.
The deceased, all passengers of the launch MV Zakir Samrat-3, were identified as Abdul Gani, 38, from Kajirabad village in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola; Md Saju, 45, from the same village; Rina, 35, from Kachukhali Gojaria village; and Md Hanif, 60, from Ahmedpur village in Charfession upazila.
Chandpur region River Police Assistant Superintendent Imtiaz Ahmed said the death toll currently stands at four.
He added that Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain was scheduled to visit Sadarghat to inspect the damaged launch involved in the accident.
OC ASM Iqbal said river police reached the scene around 2:45am but found no launches at the site as both vessels had already left the area. However, the Barishal-bound launch MV Adventure-9 was seized later in the morning at Jhalakathi while travelling from Barishal.
Passengers said MV Zakir Samrat-3, which departed from Ghosherhat in Bhola for Dhaka, was crossing the Haimchar river zone shortly after 2am. At the same time, MV Adventure-9, carrying passengers returning to Barishal from a BNP conference in Dhaka, was travelling in the opposite direction.
Due to extremely poor visibility caused by dense fog across the river, Adventure-9 reportedly lost its bearings and rammed Zakir Samrat-3 at high speed.
Passengers further said Zakir Samrat-3 was left severely damaged and began sinking mid-river. Another Dhaka-bound launch, MV Karnaphuli-9, arrived from Bhola and rescued many passengers before continuing towards the capital.
In another incident caused by dense fog, two people were killed as a passenger launch collided with a sand-laden bulkhead anchored in the Dharmaganj area of Fatullah, Narayanganj, around 6am today.
The bulkhead, identified as MB Kasfa Shahana, sank immediately after being hit by the Dhaka-bound launch Sundarban-16.
Relatives initially reported that two staff members of the bulkhead went missing. Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Faiz Uddin later confirmed that divers have recovered the bodies of the missing individuals — Zahirul Islam Shakil, 25, from Patuakhali, and Md Hasan, 20, from Jhalakathi.
According to police, the launch struck the bulkhead while it was anchored in front of a dockyard. Of the five staff members on board the bulkhead, three managed to jump into the water and save their lives, while the remaining two were feared trapped inside.
Additional DIG of River Police Alamgir Hossain confirmed the accident occurred due to heavy fog and said the launch involved has been detained.
BIWTA Joint Director Mahmud-Al-Hasan said, “We are attempting to reach the cabin where the two missing staff were reportedly sleeping. However, the rescue operation is being significantly hampered by the intense cold.”
Divers from both the Coast Guard and Fire Service are continuing the search operation.
Meanwhile, an eight member panel has been formed to investigate the head-on collision between two launches in the Meghna River in Harina of Chandpur district, leaving four dead and several others injured.
The Ministry of Shipping formed the probe body headed by its Additional Secretary Md. Muhidul Islam and asked to submit a report within seven working days, identifying the causes of the accident and the parties responsible, according to a notification issued by the ministry on Friday.