A total of 85 passengers, including women and children, were rescued on Saturday night after the launch MV Boali became stranded on a submerged shoal in Padma River.
The vessel departed from Daulatdia launch terminal in Goalanda Ghat police station, Rajbari at 7:45pm, bound for Paturia. During the journey, the launch got stuck on a shoal known as Kushihata in the middle of the river.
The incident triggered panic among the passengers due to the pitch-black surroundings and the immense depth of the river water. Two frightened passengers contacted the National Emergency Service 999 to request an immediate rescue.
The emergency calls were received by 999 call takers Constable Tanjid and Constable Rana. Subsequently, 999 police dispatchers SI Shariful Islam and SI Anisur Rahman maintained constant communication with the callers, the relevant police stations, and the rescue teams.
Following the alert, 999 service immediately informed Naval Police Control Room, as well as Daulatdia and Paturia Naval Police Stations, to initiate rescue operations.
Police teams from Daulatdia and Paturia Naval Police arrived at the scene with a rescue trawler and two speedboats. Upon arrival, the officers first ensured the primary security of the passengers.
The Naval Police then utilised the trawler and the two speedboats to rescue the passengers from the shoal and transfer them to another launch, MV Chishtia. Under the supervision of Naval Police, the passengers safely reached Paturia launch terminal at 11:30pm.
Trinath Saha, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Daulatdia Naval Police Outpost, who led the rescue team, confirmed the successful operation to 999 service.
