Barisal, Mar 7 (bdnews24.com) -- A collision between a passenger launch and a cargo vessel carrying fly ash on Wednesday left one person dead and three others injured in Barisal district.
According to police and the cargo crew, the accident took place on the Kirtonkhola River around 4:30am on Wednesday.
The deceased has been identified as 55-year-old 'Bachchu', master of the cargo vessel MV Nashek-2. He was from Chandripur of Feni's Dagonbhuiyan and was the son of Abdul Kader.
The injured have been named as 'Miraj', 27, 'Ayaz', 25, and Momin Tali, whose age was unknown. 'Miraj' have been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal.
Dhanu Mia, a crew member of the cargo vessel, told bdnews24.com: "MV Nashek-2 was on its way to Dhaka with 606 tonnes of fly ash from Kolkata's Bhojbhoj. Around 4:30am, a Barisal-bound launch collided with the cargo vessel shattering its right side. The collision tore the master bridge off and forced it on the front side of the launch."
Cargo vessel master 'Bachchu', who was on the master bridge, died instantly.
'Miraj', who was also on the master bridge, suffered several injuries including in his head. Cooks Momin Tali and 'Ayaz', who were in the kitchen, were also injured.
Even though Dhanu Mia could not name the launch, 'Mamun', a local resident, told bdnews24.com that Sunderban-7, a passenger launch on Barisal-Dhaka route, had collided with the cargo vessel. He said one of his relatives was a passenger on the launch.
However, when asked about the collision, Sunderban-7 launch supervisor Mohammad Harun said, "I do not know anything."
Manager of FN Line, the institution that owns of the cargo vessel, Mohammad Karim, said, "The cargo vessel was carrying fly ash for the Scan Cement factory. The fly ash is now being dumped into the river as the cargo vessel has tilted in mid-river."
He also said that he would sue the launch owner.
Assistant sub-inspector of Kawnia Police Station Monirul Islam said, "We are trying to retrieve the dead body by breaking open the bridge. The launch fled the scene immediately after the accident. We are looking into the matter."
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