File Photo

NARAYANGANJ, March 21, 2022 (BSS) - The sunken launch "ML Afsar Uddin" was
recovered from Shitalakkhya river in Narayanganj early this morning.

Rescue ship Pratyay of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)
managed to bring the launch out of the water around 5:15am, said Tanharul
Islam deputy assistant director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil
Defense.

The submerged vessel was lifted from under the water after 15-hour, he said.

There was no body found inside the vessel immediately, he said adding that
the search operation is going on.

The launch named 'MV Afsar Uddin' which was heading towards Munshiganj with
passengers, capsized in the river after it was hit by a large cargo vessel
'MV Rupsi-9' around 2:10 pm near Al-Amin Nagar area under Sadar upazila
yesterday.

So far, six bodies were recovered and several remained missing after the
launch capsized in the Shitalakshya River on Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Joynal Bhuiyan, 55, a businessman from
Munshiganj Sadar's North Islampur, Arifa Akter, 35, of Munshiganj Sadar, her
minor son Safayet, 15-month-old, Salma Begum,40, of Mirzaganj in Patuakhali
and her daughter Fatema, 7, and Smriti, 20, of Munshiganj Sadar.

Meanwhile, separate committees have been formed by the shipping ministry, the
Shipping Department and the deputy commissioner of Narayanganj to investigate
the incident.