Karnaphuli-5 driver\\\'s body found in Meghna

The operator of ‘Karnaphuli-5’, a lighterage (lighter vessel), has been found dead in Meghna River in Ramgati Upazila in Lakshmipur district. Noor Newaz’s body was spotted in the early hours of Monday, Ramgati Police OC Rezaul Karim said on Monday morning. The lighter vessel, carrying fertiliser for Chittagong’s Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company, ran into trouble on its way to Baghabarhi. It hit a good-laden craft near Batirkhal of Ramgati Upazila in the early hours of Saturday. Police found three workers - Md Parvez, Mahbub Hossain, Jahidul Islam – trapped inside a cabin. A blood-stained steel range was also recovered. The incident infuriated vessel workers in Chittagong, Mongla and other ports sparking an indefinite strike across the country from Saturday. The workers alleged that robbers had attacked Karnaphuli-5 at Batirshail of Kamalnagar. They said 7 among the vessel’s 10 workers were missing. However, a faction of the striking workers partially withdrew the strike on Sunday afternoon following assurances of action made to them by senior police officers, according to a news agency.