220 Missing as launch capsizes in Munshiganj

A launch with over 250 passengers aboard capsized in the Meghna River after a cargo boat hit it in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj early Tuesday. No casualty was reported till filing of this report at 11:00am. Thirty of the passengers of ‘MV Shariatpur-1’ managed to swim ashore while the rest remain missing, reports our Munshiganj correspondent. After three-hour frantic efforts, rescue vessel MV Rustom spotted the launch at Char Kishori at 11:30am. According to Md Azizul Alam, deputy commissioner of Munshiganj, the Dhaka-bound launch sank into the river after an oil-laden cargo boat dashed it around 2:30am. Only 30 of the passengers could swim to the shore. Dulal Dewan, one of the survivors, told The Daily Star he could reach the shore after efforts. “But eight of my family members are remaining missing,” Dewan said. He informed the double-decker launch left Naria of Shariatpur for Dhaka around 9:30pm Monday and the accident took place when it reached Char Kishori. On information, members of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion, local police and Fire Brigade personnel reached the spot and started rescue operation. Rescue vessel MV Rustom reached the area at 8:30am and started working to locate the capsized launch. “We succeeded to spot the launch at 11:30am,” Shamsuddoha Khondker, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told The Daily Star.