Chandpur launch accident: Victims’ families to get Tk 1.50 lakh

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain has said the government will provide Tk 1.5 lakh to each of the families of those killed in a collision between two launches in Chandpur.

Each of the families of those injured in the incident will receive Tk 50,000, he said while talking to reporters after inspecting the damaged launches at Sadarghat in Dhaka on Friday, December 26.

“Today's incident was a 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 the water route journey, saying, “I myself travel by waterway, and I have also noticed that many vessels don’t use lights while operating in the dark at night.”

The Ministry of Shipping formed an eight-member committee to investigate the launch accident, and the authorities concerned were asked to arrest those responsible for the incident, he said.

Also Read: Death toll rises to 4 in launch collision on Meghna River 

The shipping adviser said the real cause behind the incident could be known after the 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 drivers do not operate the launch properly or do not use lights at night, or do not follow the instructions, their route permits and licenses will be canceled.

Four people were killed in a collision between two passenger launches—Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9 — amid dense fog in the Meghna River in the Harina area of Chandpur Sadar in the early hours of today.

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.

Source: BSS