UP member killed

At least one person was killed and another remained missing as a speedboat carrying 18 passengers capsized in the Padma River near Shimulia ghat yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Sufia Begum, 60, a member of reserved women seat in Hasara Union Parishad in Sreenagar upazila, police said.

Her body was handed over to her husband Salim Sheikh.

The incident also injured 10 of the passengers, among whom six were admitted to local hospitals. The others received first aid.

Meanwhile, another passenger Jalal Sarker, 50, hailing from Sreenagar upazila, has remained missing since the incident occurred. Fire Service and divers were working to locate him.

The Kathalbari-bound boat left Shimulia ghat around 9:00am and capsized after colliding with a ferry some 500 metres away, said Liakat Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Louhajang Police Station. 

The passengers were rescued by other speed boats and nearby vessels, the OC added.

Police said the speed boat belonged to Khalil Company and the driver fled.

BIWTA and river police ensure that all passengers wear life jackets before boarding the speedboat, said In-charge of Mawa naval outpost Md Arman Hossain.

However, there are allegations that when the speedboats reach middle of the river, many passengers take off their jackets.

On June 27, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) suspended plying of all water vessels including launch and speedboats on Shimulia-Kathalbari route following an accident and due to strong currents in the Padma River.

Earlier that day, a Kathalbari-bound speedboat carrying 20 passengers capsized at the Louhojong turning point area around 9:00am, injuring five.