DHAKA, June 30, 2020 (BSS) – Another body of a child was recovered from Buriganga, taking the death toll to 33 as the rescue operation was declared over this afternoon, a day after the launch ‘Morning Bird’ capsized in the river being hit by another vessel near Shyambazar in the city.
The body was recovered at around 12:48pm from the engine room of the launch when the sunken vessel was pulled out of water.
Director General of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Brigadier General Sajjad Hossain said the rescue operation was resumed at 10 am today for the second day while the rescue workers recovered another body around 12.48 pm taking the total death toll to 33.
He, however, declared the rescue operation over at around 2.30pm.
Earlier, two people — Md Rifat (24) and Sujan Bepari (43) — were rescued alive during the drive. Both of them are now undergoing treatment a city hospital.
According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the accident took place at Farashganj-Shyambazar launch ghat at around 9:30 am on Monday when the launch ‘Morning Bird’ was allegedly hit by another big launch named ‘Moyur-2’.
The government formed a seven-member probe-body hours after the launch capsized in Buriganga River with Joint Secretary (development) of the Shipping Ministry Md Rafiqul Islam Khan as the convener and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) director Md Rafiqul Islam as the member secretary.
The committee has been asked to submit a report to the ministry within next seven working days containing the reasons behind the accident, liable individuals or agencies and specific recommendations on what needs to do to avoid such incident in future.
Besides, a case was filed with Dakshin Keraniganj Police Station accusing seven people, including the owner of Moyur-2 over the deaths of 32 people.
Shamsul Alam, a sub-inspector of Sadarghat River Police Station, filed the case charging for negligence that caused deaths of 32 people and some other offences.
The accused are: launch owner Mosaddek Hanif Swad (33), launch masters and Abul Bashar Mollah (65) and Jakir Hossain (39), engine driver Shipon Hawlader (45), driver Shakil Hasan (28) and Sukanis Nasir Mridha (40) and Ridoy (24).
Officer-in-charge of the Dakshin Keraniganj Police Station police station Shah Zaman said drive is on to arrest the accused.