Death toll from launch capsize rises to 80

MANIKGANJ, Feb 26 (UNB): The body of another Padma launch capsize victim was recovered on Thursday, raising the death toll from the tragic incident to 80.

Mahmudul Haque, officer-in-charge of Dohar police station, said the body of a man, who was a passenger of the launch, was recovered from a river at Dhoair village in Dohar upazila of Dhaka.

Local people spotted the body and informed police who recovered the body around 12:30 pm.

The deceased was identified as Mostafa Mahfuz, a resident of Basabo area of Dhaka and an employee of BRAC.

Earlier on Sunday, a launch carrying over 150 passengers, sank in the mid-river around 11:45 am after it was hit by a fertiliser-laden cargo vessel 'Nargis-1' while it was heading towards Daulatdia ferryghat from Paturia.