Search workers are saying the length of the metallic object detected underwater in the Padma near Mawa matches the length of the sunken passenger vessel Pinak-6. The equipment on board Kandari-2 detected the object underwater on Saturday afternoon. The object had shown up in scanners for the last two days, but the Kandari-2 equipment has captured a sharper image. Chittagong port’s Chief Hydrographer Manjurul Karim Chowdhury, who is in command of Kandari-2, said the metallic object was found one kilometre downstream from where the vessel had sank. Navy Captain Manjurul Kabir said it was not certain whether this object was the sunken vessel. “But its length matches that of the launch.” The object detected is about 16-17 metres. The sunken launch was 16.5 metres long. “Right now we are analysing it and sending divers in to identify the object,” he said. BIWTA Chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker said the authorities were making every effort to find the missing vessel. “At the site of the accident, the river is about 80-90 feet deep and there are strong whirlpools,” he said. Meanwhile, speedboats have been barred from operating in the Mawa-Kewrakandi route because of strong currents in the Padma. BIWTA Traffic Inspector at Mawa Jahangir Hossain said speedboats had been ignoring the warning and police had to intervene to stop them from carrying passengers. Three dump ferries have also stopped operating because of the strong currents. Another four are proceeding with caution. An official at the terminal said there were a total of nine ferries operating at the terminal at present. — bdnews24.com
