Three members of a family were killed and seven others injured in the head-on collision between two launches in the Meghna River in Mohona area of Chandpur Sadar upazila early Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Sahana Begum, 60, and daughter-in-law Rupa, 30, and Rupa’s son Shakil, 6. All of them were residents of Lalbagh area in old part of the capital.Five of the injured are Suraiya, 28, Rabbi, 11, Sheuly, 35, Dalia, 38, and Monwara, 50.
Qamrul Islam, additional superintendent of district police, said a Barisal-bound launch, ‘Parabat-9’, collided head-on with another launch, ‘Sundarban-8’, near the launch ghat of the sadar upazila at about 1:30 am due to dense fog, leaving Shakil dead on the spot and nine others injured.
Of the injured, Sahana died on the way to Dhaka while Rupa succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital around 8:30 am.
All the victims were travelling by ‘Sundarban-8’ launch. Abdul Qaiyum, officer-in-charge of Sadar Model Police Station, confirmed the death of Rupa.
The Department of Shipping (DoS) has suspended the route permits of the two vessels, following the death of the three people.
An order in this regard has been issued by the DoS, senior public relations officer of Shipping Ministry Jahangir Alam told journalists on Tuesday.
