Mother and son killed, 8 hurt as launch hits another in Meghna

A woman and her son were killed and eight people injured as a passenger launch hit another vessel on the river Meghna in Barishal early yesterday.

Police said the accident took place at Majerchar in Hijla upazila around 12:30am when Vandaria-bound launch “Farhan-9” from Dhaka hit Dhaka-bound “Kirtankhola-10” coming from Barishal.

The deceased -- Mahamuda Khatun (25) from Vandarikati in Barishal and her six-year-old son Momin -- were aboard Kirtonkhola-10, confirmed Hijla Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashim Kumar Sarker.

The OC quoted Kirtankhola-10 authorities as saying that poor visibility due to dense fog caused the accident.

Aslam Hossain, one of its passengers, said, “The launch was moving slowly amid foggy weather. Suddenly, the other launch hit it perpendicularly, killing the two on the spot and injuring at least eight people.”

Echoing him, Bellal Hossain, owner of Kirtankhola, said Farhan-9 was going to Vandaria.

Mamunur Rashid, driver of Farhan-9, said the accident happened because of thick fog.

Similar comments came from Alamin, a staff member of Farhan-9; and Saidur Rahman Rintu, vice president of Launch Owners’ Association.

Triple-decker Kirtankhola-10 was carrying more than 800 passengers while triple-decker Farhan-9 over 500, said BIWTA officials and staffers of the launches.

Ajmol Huda Mithu, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority in Barishal, said BIWTA formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident.

The probe body headed by Saiful Islam, additional director (port and transportation) of BIWTA, was asked to submit a report to its chairman within seven working days, said Ajmol Huda, adding that Farhan-9 was seized.

Collection of information about the accident already started, he added.

Abdur Razzak, port officer at Chandpur River Port, said two of the injured were treated at Chandpur Sadar Hospital and later were sent to Dhaka for better treatment.

Of them, Noorjahan was hit in the leg and Haiful Begum in the head, he added.

The others were given first aid, said the officer. Following the accident, police detained Aftab Ahmed, driver of Farhan-9; and Hamid Hossain, its worker, from Hularhat berthing point in Pirojpur, confirmed Pirojpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nurul Islam.

Following the accident, the Department of Shipping seized registration and fitness certificates of both the launches. It formed another three-member committee to investigate the accident, said Shafiqur Rahman, chief inspector of the department. The committee will submit its report within 15 working days, he said.