Fisherman killed in Meghna launch collision while travelling to Dhaka for wife’s treatment

Neighbours and family say he was the sole breadwinner of the family

Md Hanif Majhi, a 42-year-old fisherman from Charfesson Upazila in Bhola, has died in a collision between two passenger launches on the Meghna River in Chandpur while travelling to Dhaka for his wife’s medical treatment.

The collision occurred around 2am on Thursday when the Dhaka-bound MV Zakir Samrat-3 collided head-on with the Adventure-9, said Babulal Baidya, port officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority’s (BIWTA) Chandpur office.

Four people were killed in the incident.

Relatives said Hanif is among the victims. He was travelling on the Zakir Samrat-3 with his wife Rahima Begum, who has been seriously ill and required treatment in Dhaka.

At Hanif’s village home on Friday afternoon, relatives said he was the sole earner of a family with four children and made a living by fishing.

When local treatment failed to improve his wife’s condition, he borrowed money to take her to the capital.

Hanif left Charfesson’s Ghosherhat ferry terminal on Thursday afternoon with his wife. Around 2am, the family received news that he has died in the collision.

Passengers and witnesses said the Adventure-9, travelling from Dhaka to Barishal, hit the Zakir Samrat-3 amid dense fog, causing extensive damage.

Several passengers fell into the river.

After the collision, the Adventure-9 left the scene.

Many passengers from the damaged ferry were rescued by another vessel, MV Karnaphuli-9.

Hanif was among those rescued, but he died on the way to Sadarghat in Dhaka for treatment.

The whole village was seen mourning his loss. His children, identified by the single names Aklima and Shamim, said their father was the family’s only source of income.

“Our mother has been ill for a long time. Father borrowed money to take her to Dhaka for treatment,” they said.

“We want justice for this incident and accountability from the launch operators.”

Hanif’s brother, identified by the single name Akhtar, said the family seeks compensation for the loss.

“A man who went to save his wife’s life has returned dead. This collision has destroyed a poor fisherman’s family,” he said.

Dularhat Police chief Mizanur Rahman said police have received information about Hanif’s death in the launch accident and will look into the overall wellbeing of the family.