Staff Reporter :
The death toll from Monday’s launch capsize in the Buriganga River rose to 33 with the recovery of one more body from the sunken vessel on Tuesday.
The body was recovered at 12:48pm today when the sunken vessel was being pulled out of water, Anisur Rahman, Duty Officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said.
The double-deck ‘Morning Bird’ launch with over 50 passengers coming from Munshiganj sank in the river after being hit by Chandpur-bound vessel ‘Mayur-2’ while anchoring to the Kathpatti ghat on Monday morning.
The sunken launch was pulled out by rescue workers manually, 26 hours after the accident.
Members of Fire Service, River Police, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard launched a rescue operation after the accident and recovered 32 bodies on Monday.
Besides, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) called off rescue and salvage operations for the capsized ML Morning launch around 2:30pm on Tuesday, according to Fire Service headquarters control room in-charge Enayetur Rahman. However, Fire Services teams are continuing patrols until they are satisfied there are no more survivors or bodies, he added.Earlier, the diving teams of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bnagladesh Navy and Coast Guard recovered the body of a child around 12:45pm on Tuesday, taking the death toll to 33.
Meanwhile, seven people were sued on charge of negligence of duty that caused deaths of about 33 people and some other offences under Sections 280, 304 A, 437 and 34 of Penal code.
A case has been filed against seven people with South Keraniganj Police Station in connection with a launch capsize in the Buriganga River.
Mohammad Shamsul, Sub Inspector of Naval Police sadarghat thana, filed the case early Tuesday accusing the people, including the owner of Mayur-2 launch.
Confirming the matter, Mohammad Shahjaman, officer-in-charge of South Keraniganj police station, said they are trying to arrest the people.
