Vessel seized, 4 crew held after deadly collision between launches on Meghna River

Police says the four crew members of the "Aventure-9" passenger launch were detained at the Jhalakathi Launch Terminal

Police have seized one of the two launches involved in a deadly collision on the Meghna River in Chandpur and arrested four of its crew.

The collision occurred in the early hours of Friday amid dense fog, which severely reduced visibility on the river.

Jhalokathi district police superintendent Mizanur Rahman said

The four crew members were later arrested at the Jhalakathi Launch Terminal, according to police.

According to witnesses, a group of BNP leaders and activists were returning to Jhalakathi from a rally in Dhaka aboard the "Adventure-9" on Thursday night. At the same time, the Dhaka-bound "MV Zakir Samrat-3", which had departed from Ghosherhat in Bhola, was passing through the Haimchar area around 2am.

The two launches collided head-on, causing severe damage to the front of the Adventure-9.

All those injured in the incident have been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal.

Later, authorities seized Adventure-9 after preliminary information indicated it had struck the other vessel first, according to Jhalakathi Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman.

Legal action will be taken in connection with the incident, he said.