Launch death toll now 53

Twenty-two more bodies have been recovered on Saturday from a launch that sunk in Meghna River at Munshiganj’s Gazaria.

Fifty-three dead bodies have been found so far after MV Miraj-4 sank with almost 250 passengers on Thursday.

Authorities say 45 bodies were handed over to their families and there is still no confirmation about how many are still missing.

The launch, headed for Shariatpur, sank after it was caught in a storm near Doulatpur on Thursday evening. The majority of the victims hail from the Shariatpur’s Naria Upazila.

Meanwhile, relatives of victims have attacked rescue vessel ‘Prottoy’ on Saturday.

This happened after Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) called off rescue efforts on grounds that nothing more could be done now that the sunken launch has been pulled close to the river bank.

MV Miraj-4 is lying on its side about 45 feet away from Megnha's banks.

Faced with the protests, BIWTA decided to resume rescue work as the relatives demand that the operation continue until the launch is turned around and its interior fully checked to see if there are more bodies inside.

BIWTA Chairman Shamsuddoha Khandker earlier said the launch cannot be dragged further because the water near the bank is shallow.

“We rescued the launch. There is nothing more that can be done,” he told bdnews24.com.

But Deputy Commissioner Saiful Hasan and local MP Mrinal Kanti Das rushed to the scene and assured protesters that rescue will continue.

“The rescue isn’t over. We will work until we are sure that none is missing.

We will do everything necessary to assist those who have lost their loved ones,” said the DC.

Fifteen passengers who survived have been admitted at various hospitals.