News Desk :
The death toll from the launch capsize in the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj after being hit by a cargo vessel rose to eight with the recovery of two more bodies on Monday, reports UNB.
The body of a 40-year-old man was retrieved from the river in the morning, said deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarter
Mohamamd Shahjahan.Shikdar. Four passengers of the launch are still missing, he said.
Besides, the body of a 30-year-old woman identified as Umme Khairun Fatema, headmistress of Harial Government Primary School in Sonargaon, was recovered from the river in the morning.
Narayanganj Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin said they recovered the body around 10:30 am.
Earlier, rescue vessel ‘Pratyay’ of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) retrieved sunken launch ‘MV Afsar Uddin’ from the Sitalakkhya River around 5:30am.
However, no body was found inside the launch, said the fire service officials.
Meanwhile, the movement of launches on Dhaka-Munshiganj route has been suspended.
On Sunday, Munshiganj-bound launch ML Asraf Uddin, carrying around 50-60 passengers, capsized in the river as cargo vessel MV Rupshi-9 hit it around 2:30 pm, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters.
At least six bodies, including of a three-year-old child, were recovered on the day.
One of the deceased was identified as Joynal, aged about 50, while the bodies of a 10-year-old girl, an 18-year-old girl, a 45-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman remained unidentified.
Some 15-20 passengers managed to swim ashore.
