Two passenger vessels rammed into each other on a Barisal river leaving at least five people dead. Officials said that the mishap took place around 4am on Monday, which left at least four others injured. A Dhaka-bound launch collided with the steamer, which was heading for Barisal, said Barisal River Port’s Assistant General Manager Abul Kalam. He said that the launch, ‘Suravi-7’ was almost empty while the steamer ‘PS Mahsud’ was carrying around 700 passengers. “The empty vessel rammed into the steamer.” Kalam said that passengers have been moved to another vessel. This happens at a time when millions of Bangladeshis are heading back to their hometowns to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr. Fire service officials said that they have recovered bodies of five persons, including two females, who have been identified as 20-year-old Shima Aktar and 12-year-old ‘Tamanna’. The others are yet to be identified. The four injured have been taken to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal, said Fire Service Assistant Director Faruque Hossain. The local administration has formed a probe panel, which has been told to file its report within three days. –bdnews24.com
