Launch capsize in Buriganga: Moyur-2 owner arrested, placed on 3-day remand
Mosaddek Hanif Swad, owner of the launch that hit another and caused it to capsize in Buriganga river on June 29, was placed on a three-day remand -- hours after he was arrested in Dhaka today.
A team of River Police arrested Swad (33) from a house in Dhanmondi around midnight, Khondoker Faridul Islam, superintendent of River Police in Dhaka, told The Daily Star.
Senior Judicial Magistrate Monika Khan placed him on remand after Sub-inspector Md Shahidul Alam of River Police -- also investigation officer of the case -- produced Swad before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.
At least 34 people drowned as a novice was allegedly at the helm of Moyur-2 when the vessel slammed into a smaller launch -- Morning Bird -- causing the latter to sink inBuriganga river at the capital's Shyambazar on June 29.
In the remand prayer, the IO said Swad had previous enmity with the owner of Morning Bird and he could not avoid the responsibility of the incident. Moreover, Swad needs to be remanded to know the whereabouts and addresses of the other accused, he said.
Defence lawyer, however, submitted a petition seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayer on grounds that the accident occurred because of the vessel's masters.
Moreover, his client was not present during time of accident, so they appealed to the court to grant him bail on any terms of conditions rejecting the remand order, the lawyer added.
After hearing both sides, the magistrate turned down the bail petition and issued the remand order.
Soon after the incident, River Police filed a case with Keraniganj Dakshin Police Station against Swad and six others. Since then, he was absconding.
The other accused -- Swad's employee Abul Bashar Molla (65), launch master Jakir Hossain (54), engine driver Shipon Hawlader (45), driver Shakil Hasan (28), Sukani Nasir Mridha (40), and Ridoy (24) -- are still on the run.
The accused, including the owner, were charged with negligence that caused deaths and some other offences under section 280, 304 A, 437 and 34 of penal code.
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