Five women found dead after launch capsizes in Shitalakkhya river

At least five people, all women, have died after a launch capsized following a collision with a cargo vessel in the Shitalakkhya river in Narayanganj.

Rescuers found the bodies of the women aged between 35 and 40 after the tragedy near Madanganj Ghat on Sunday, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Nahida Bari said.

The authorities could not immediately identify the victims.

Packed with passengers beyond capacity, the launch Sabit Al Asad sank around 6pm, said Mobarak Hossain, a deputy director at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority or BIWTA.

Kabir Hossain, in charge of Muktarpur River Police Station, earlier said a storm disrupted the rescue operation.

Some of the rescued passengers were brought to Munshiganj General Hospital for treatment.

Citing the survivors, Kabir said the launch was carrying more passengers than its capacity.

Relatives of the missing passengers gathered at Munshiganj Launch Pier and the banks of the river.

Mobarak said the Munshiganj-bound launch from Narayanganj was hit by cargo vessel SK-3 near the under-construction third Shitalakkhya bridge.

A rescue vessel also started for the site, he added. Many of the passengers swam ashore, according to him.

Badiuzzaman Badal, a leader of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport and Passenger Association, said the launch was carrying 40-50 passengers.

River Police Sub-Inspector Yunus Munshi said from the scene they feared some of the passengers were still unaccounted for.

Abdullah Al Arefin, a deputy assistant director at the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said three divers were conducting the rescue operation which was disrupted by heavy wind.

BIWTA’s Mobarak said the storm forced a brief suspension of launch services at Sadarghat Terminal in Dhaka.