Launch with 250 aboard sinks near Mawa

FE Team | Published: August 05, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

A launch with around 250 people aboard sank in the Padma near Mawa and rescuers found 100 alive and two dead so far as the rescue operation continued after the ferry disaster, media reports said.
Officials said bodies of two women were recovered after the launch, MV Pinak-6, capsized in the Padma in Lauhajang Upazila of Munshiganj in the morning due to strong current in the river.
Local people have so far rescued at least 100 passengers from the river while many went missing, Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hassan said around 1:00pm.
Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.
The launch sank in the midstream of the river while it was coming to Mawa from Kawrakandi terminal around 11:00am, said Tofazzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Lauhajang Police Station.
"The launch capsized as the river was rough due to stormy weather," the OC said.
In the meantime, there has been a low formed over the Bay of Bengal and the Met office had issued warning signals for the country's seaports.       
Divers from Fire Brigade and Civil Defence and Bangladesh Navy reached the spot and started rescue operation.
Rescue vessel MV Rustam started from Narayanganj to join the salvage operation.
Rapid Action Battalion sent a helicopter to strengthen the rescue work, said Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of legal and media wing of the RAB headquarters.
The helicopter will patrol the river area and help rescuers to trace the victims.