Salvage operation of sunken launch ML Oishi officially ended at about 11:00 am on Thursday after recovery of 24 dead bodies.
The ill-fated launch ML Oishi capsized in the Sandhya River near the Masjid Bari Station of Daserhut in Banaripara upazila of Barisal district at about 11:30 am on Wednesday.
Local people, teams and salvage vessel of the BIWTA, the teams of the Navy, the Police and the Fire Service participated in the salvage operation.
It was learnt that the launch ‘Oishi Plus’ was sailing without route permit with about 60 passengers on board.
The bodies of 14 recovered passengers identified as: Sukdev, 40, Razzak Hawladar, 50, Shanta, 11, Firoj, 50, Kohinur Begum, 44, Rahima Begum, 65, Saleha Begum, Abdus Sattar, 26, Rabeya Khatun, 44, Muzammel Molla, 50, Joynal Hawladar, 50, Milon Gharami, Hira Begum, 26, and Manwara Begum, 30, were recovered on Wednesday and early Thursday. The four other dead bodies under-4 were identified as Rabbi, Riyad, Safoan and Mahima were recovered on Thursday morning from inside the launch after the vessel was lifted above the water level by the BIWTA salvage vessel ‘Nirvik’.
Zakir Hossain Additional District Magistrate and head of the 9-member probe committee formed by the district administration, officially announced the end of the salvage operation at about 11:00 am on Thursday. However, if any one will informs us about location of any missing person(s), then we shall send rescue team, Zakir Hossain added. On the other hand, local people and according to the missing passengers list, it had been claimed that at least 9-10 more persons were still missing. Abdul Mannan Mridha, local Sayedkathi UP chairman, expressing his reservation said that four passengers only succeeded to swim ashore, 10 to 12 were rescued alive and 18 dead bodies recovered.
So, number of missing would be about 20 as the launch was carrying about 60 passengers. Maliha, one of the relatives of a missing victim, said her maternal aunt and cousin were still traceless. Shihab, another relative of a missing victim, said that his mother’s dead body had not yet been found. Most of the relatives of the missing victims complaining of lethargy in salvage said that speedy action would have saved more lives.
Mustafizur Rahman, Barisal Port Officer, rejecting the accusation said that the salvage vessel ‘Nirvik’ took time to reach the spot due to speedy current in the river, and lack of sufficient light.
The vessel was cruising without route permit and fitness certificate and giving proxy for another under-repair vessel of the same owner. BIWTA cannot take any action against the unauthorized vessels due to shortage of manpower, the BIWTA official admitted.
