Narrow escape for 400 passengers
Md Moniruzzaman, a private job holder, was able to get some days off his busy schedule and went to Barisal to see his parents couple of days back.
Yesterday afternoon, the 40-year-old got on a passenger launch at Barisal river port around 2:30pm to return to the capital.
The launch, “MV Green Line”, carrying 400 Dhaka-bound passengers left Barisal around 3:05pm.
The journey over the Kirtonkhola river was pleasant and Moniruzzaman knew the route quite well, as he has taken the journey numerous times.
But what he did not expect was the loud collision around 3:20pm, which suddenly threw him out of his seat, as the launch collided head-on with a cargo vessel Near Charbaria.
“The collision threw us off our seats. There was chaos everywhere. Children were crying and passengers screaming. We were scared. We thought the launch might sink any moment,” he said.
“It could have turned fatal,” he said. “We anchored around 15-feet away from the shore. Locals helped us reach ashore by using bamboos and logs as a bridge.”
There were no immediate reports of casualties, and the passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the vessels, said witnesses and police.
But the cargo vessel “MV Masud-Mamun-1” sank immediately after the collision at Beltola point around 4:00pm, said Sub-inspector Shafikur Rahman of Barisal Naval Police outpost.
The cargo vessel, carrying around 525 tonnes of coal, was heading to Khulna.
Arman Ahmed, one of the passengers of the launch, said, “A major crack appeared at its hull right after the collision and water started entering the lower deck.”
Meanwhile, another passenger, Sumon Chakraborty, alleged that even after seeing the cargo vessel coming from the opposite side, the launch kept on speeding.
Many other passengers also echoed Sumon.
When asked about the allegation, SI Shafikur said, “We are looking into it.” He said the launch crew went into hiding after reaching the shore.
He said the crew of the cargo vessel also alleged that the passenger launch was heading towards them at full speed and did not maintain their designated route.
This correspondent tried to get in touch with the officials of the “Green Line” in Barisal but they did not receive any phone calls despite repeated attempts.
The rescued passengers were sent to their destination on MV Sundarban-12, said Azmal Huda, deputy director of River Transport and Passenger Safety of BIWTA at Barisal port.
“The launch is gradually sinking and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority salvage vessel NIRBHIK-2 is continuing its rescue operation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Barisal District Administration formed a five-member probe body, headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain, to investigate the incident.
The probe body has been asked to submit its report within seven working days, the BIWTA official said.
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