Passengers safe after launch ploughs into a paddy field

Passengers have disembarked safely from a launch that ran aground into a paddy field on the river bank on the Dhaka-Barisal route.

The vessel, carrying 2000 people, had apparently 'losing its way'.

Some passengers of The Dhaka-bound launch, Dipraj, got off to start for Dhaka on their own, as the accident site was near the Barisal city.

Some others returned home, having failed to get any transport, said Kaunia Police OC Mahbubur Rahman.

It was the last launch for Dhaka from Barisal on Friday night. It was stuck on the shore till 10am Saturday.

Dipraj's Barisal office manager Niaz Morshed said, "A BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation) tugboat was supposed to arrive around noon to pull the launch back to the river from the paddy field."

Police believe the vessel lost its way due to poor visibility in the dark because of thick fog.
The launch authorities, however, claimed the master had purposely steered the vessel to the bank.

"Master Akter Hossain caused the accident willingly. He often competes with other launches and had been rebuked for that in the morning. He did it out of spite and anger," said Niaz Morshed.

Hossain’s mobile phone was found to be switched off when he was contacted.

Kaunia Police Sub-Inspector Farhad Hossain said quoting passengers, "Dipraj started from the Barisal dock for Dhaka around 8pm Friday. After sailing for some time, it bumped into a paddy field beside the Kirtankhola River in the Charabdani area in the Sadar Upazila.