The government has announced financial assistance for the families of those killed and injured in a passenger launch collision in Chandpur’s Haimchar upazila, assuring strict legal action against those responsible.
Four passengers were killed and more than fifty others injured when the Dhaka-bound MV Zakir Samrat-3 collided with Adventure-9 in dense fog on the Meghna River early hours of Friday. The accident occurred around 2:30am in the Haimchar police station area of Chandpur.
The Adventure-9 had departed Dhaka for Jhalakathi, while MV Zakir Samrat-3 was travelling to Dhaka from Ghosherhat.
Poor visibility caused by heavy fog led to the collision, leaving MV Zakir Samrat-3 badly damaged.
Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, who also oversees the Ministry of Labour and Employment, visited Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Friday morning and inspected the damaged vessel.
He spoke with the families of the victims and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, offering condolences to the bereaved.
The adviser said the ministry would immediately provide Tk150,000 to each deceased passenger’s family and Tk50,000 to each injured passenger for medical treatment.
He also directed the owners of both launches to appear before the authorities and said the responsible owners would compensate the affected families.
He said the Ministry of Shipping had already formed an eight-member investigation committee to probe the incident and instructed it to submit a report within seven working days.
The adviser warned of strict legal action against those found responsible. He said police had already taken five staff members of Adventure-9 into custody. Further action would follow based on the investigation report.
Reiterating safety instructions, he directed operators not to run launches in dense fog and ordered the mandatory use of fog lights and side lights on all vessels. He also instructed the Department of Shipping to strengthen monitoring of launch fitness certificates and licences and urged all stakeholders to act more responsibly.
Shipping Secretary Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury, NDC, BIWTA Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa, and senior officials from the ministry were present during the inspection.
