A case has been filed against 18 people, including eight named and 10 unidentified individuals, in connection with the collision between two passenger launches on the Meghna River in Haimchar, Chandpur.
The case was lodged at Haimchar Police Station at around 11pm on Saturday by Babulal Baidya, deputy director (Traffic) of BIWTA Chandpur River Port, police said.
On Sunday afternoon, four employees of the launch Adventure-9 who were arrested in the case were produced before a Chandpur court. The arrestees were identified as Mintu, Sohel, Mohin Hawladar and Moniruzzaman.
According to the case details, the eight named accused are Md Firoz Khan (53), Md Kamal Hossain (55), Md Monirul Islam (43), Md Sultan Khan (45), Md Mintu (28), Md Sohel (40), Mohin Hawladar (25) and Md Moniruzzaman (40). All of them are employees of the launches MV Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9. The case also names 10 unidentified accused.
Haimchar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Nazmul Hasan said the case filed on behalf of BIWTA Chandpur River Port would be investigated and further legal proceedings would be handled by the river police.
Chandpur Region River Police Assistant Superintendent Imtiaz Ahmed said the four arrested employees of Adventure-9 were brought to Chandpur River Police Station from Jhalakathi on Saturday. “They were produced before the Chandpur court on Sunday, and efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused,” he said.
The collision occurred early Friday amid dense fog when the Dhaka-bound passenger launch MV Zakir Samrat-3 collided with the Barishal-bound Adventure-9 on the Meghna River in Haimchar. Four passengers were killed in the incident, while several others were injured.
Authorities have said investigations are continuing to determine responsibility for the collision and any breaches of navigational rules or safety measures.
