CHANDPUR, Dec 26 (BSS): At least four people were killed in a collision between two passenger launches -- Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9 -- amid dense fog on the Meghna River in the Harina area of Chandpur Sadar.
The accident occurred around 2:00 am on Friday. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately, as both launches left for their respective destinations shortly after the incident.
Chandpur BIWTA Deputy Director Babu Lal Vaidya said the two launches collided due to poor visibility caused by dense fog in the Meghna River. Several others were also injured in the accident, he added.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Gani, 38, Md Saju, 45, Md. Hanif, 60, and Mosa Rina, 35. All of them hailed from Bhola district.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain said the government would provide Taka 150,000 (1.5 lakh) to each of the families of the persons who died in the accident.
The family of each injured person will get Taka 50,000, he said while talking to reporters after inspecting the damaged launches at Sadarghat in the capital.
"Today's incident was sad one. Among all the types of transport, the river route is the safest, yet any accident might happen," he said.
He shared his personal experience in water route journey saying "I myself travel by waterway, and I have also noticed that many vessels don't use light while operating in the dark at night." An eight-member committee has been formed by the ministry to probe the incident and the authorities concerned were asked to arrest those responsible for the launch accident, he said.
The shipping adviser said the real cause behind the incident could be known after investigation.
The adviser said several instructions have already been given. "No launch will operate in fog at night and lights must be used if parked anywhere at night. Bulkheads will not operate before 8 am this season, and those who violate the instructions will be arrested."
In the future, he said, if any launch driver does not operate the launch properly or does not use lights at night or does not follow the instructions, their route permits and licences will be cancelled.
In a separate incident, passenger launch Imam Hasan-5 met with an accident due to dense fog while returning to Chandpur.
On Thursday night, the launch collided head-on with a sand-carrying bulkhead anchored in the Mohanpur area of the Meghna River in Matlab Uttar upazila.
Although more than 1,000 passengers were on board at the time, no casualties were reported.
