Staff Reporter
A Dhaka court on Wednesday granted bail to Mosaddek Hanif Soad, owner of the Mayur-2 launch, in a case filed over the recent Buriganga launch accident that claimed at least 34 lives after 21 days after he had been arrested.
Judge of the District and Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka, Mohammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury, passed the order after holding hearing on a bail petition filed by Mosaddek Hanif in the case.
Mayur-2, a Dhaka-bound launch from Chandpur, on June 29, hit another vessel, Morning Bird, a launch from Munshiganj, which was capsized within seconds in the Buriganga near Farashganj terminal and claimed 34 lives.
River police unit on July 8 arrested the owner of Mayur-2 launch from the Sobhanbagh area in the capital after a case was filed. After three-day remand, he was sent to jail on July 12.
Later on July 15, he placed a bail petition with a judicial magistrate court of Dhaka, but the court rejected the petition. Then he appealed to the District and Sessions Judge’s Court against the judicial magistrate court’s order. After hearing the court granted bail to him.
Advocate Kamrul Islam took part in the hearing on behalf of the accused, while additional public prosecutor Shamsur Rahman represented the state.
During the hearing, Mosaddek Hanif’s lawyer said that all the sections of the case are bail-able. Besides, his client was not on the launch when the accident took place, added the lawyer.
On the other hand, state counsel opposed the bail prayer. After hearing the parties, the court granted bail to Mosaddek Hanif.
On June 30, Sadarghat river police station filed the case with Dakkhin Keraniganj Police Station accusing Mayur-2 launch owner Mosaddek Hanif and its six employees for the accident.
