Three more bodies take Barisal launch capsize death toll to 26, 2 still missing

The authorities have found three more bodies - two females and one boy - from the vessel, which sank in the Sandhya river in Barisal.

Barisal Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 23 Sept 2016, 10:09 AM
Updated : 23 Sept 2016, 10:10 AM

Police said the death toll stood at 26 with two, 'Jakir' and 'Raju', still missing on Friday.

The bodies recovered are of Monowara Begum, 45, wife of Syed Ali from Banariparha Upazila's Jirakathi village, and Jidan, 8, son of Khalilur Rahman from Unzirpur's Keshobkathi village.

The other victim has been identified as Alpana Rani, 25, wife of Moni Shonkor, resident of Iderkathhi village of Shwarupkathi Upazila in Pirojpur.

OC Ziaul Hasan told bdnews24.com that police had found the bodies from near the accident the spot.

The missing list was being updated to clear confusion arising out of multiple missing reports for one person, said Sub-inspector Mostafizur Rahman from the control room set up at Baniaparha Police Station.   

On Wednesday, the passenger vessel 'ML Oishee' capsized around 12pm at Dasherhaat's Mosjidbarhi terminal at Banariparha Upazila while passengers were still boarding it. Rescuers managed to pull up 14 bodies on the same day.

The sunken vessel was recovered around 8:30am while nine bodies were found on Thursday.

BIWTA official Mostafizur Rahman earlier said that the trawler that had capsized had been turned into a launch after much renovation.

Barisal's Deputy Commissioner Gazi Md Saifuzzaman said a nine-strong team, led by Additional District Magistrate Zakir Hossain, would look into the deadly incident.