Dhaka, Sept 12 – A staff member, who along with 14 others went missing after three launches anchored at WAPDA Launch Ghat in Naria under Shariatpur capsized on Monday in the Padma River due to strong current, was found dead on Tuesday morning.The deceased was identified as Sajal Talukdar, 35, a staff of the ‘Naria-2’ launch. Another 14 people still remained missing.
Locals spotted the body of Sajal 6-7 miles far from the incident place around 9:00 am and informed the police, said Md Aslam Miah, officer-in-charge of Naria Police Station. Police recovered the body.
At least 15 people, including three passengers and 12 staffs members, went missing as three launches anchored at the WAPDA Launch Ghat in Naria of Shariatpur capsized on early Monday.
The missing people included Parvin Begum, 35, of Lomsing village of Naria municipality, her 5-day-old baby, Fakhrunnesa Begum and 12 staffs of the capsized launches, said Md Aslam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Naria Police Station.
The OC said four launches were anchored at WAPDA Launch Ghat in the early morning. Of those, Mouchak-2, Naria-2 and Mahanagar capsized in the river around 5 am after the pontoon was ripped from its moorings due to strong current and erosion of the river.
Five passengers were rescued alive while three passengers and 12 staffs of the capsized launches were missing, he said, quoting operators of launches and relatives of the missing people.
Motahar Shikari, the leaseholder of the terminal, said several passengers and the staffs of the three launches were missing.
Chandpur BIWTA officer Monirul Islam said two teams of divers from Dhaka and Khulna and rescue vessels MV Prottoy from Narayanganj, MV Hamza from Dhaka have already started for the spot to conduct a rescue operation. – UNB
