Missing lighter vessel crew found dead in Laxmipur

Lighter vessels stand at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong port following a strike on Saturday enforced by its workers demanding their safety. Photo: STAR

The body of a lighter vessel crew, who went missing along with six others following a “robbery” in Laxmipur on Friday, was found from the bank of Meghna river in the district this morning.

Police recovered the body of Noor Newaz, driver of missing lighter vessel MV Karnaphuli-5, around 8:00am, Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Kamalnagar Police Station, told The Daily Star Online.

The body, which bore several stab marks, was sent to the Laxmipur General Hospital for autopsy.

The fertiliser-laden lighter vessel went missing with seven people aboard in Laxmipur on Friday sparking protest from the lighter vessel workers.

On the following day, the workers of all cargo carriers plying the inland waterways across the country launched an indefinite strike demanding government steps for ensuring their security.

Yesterday, a faction of Bangladesh Lighterage Workers Union postponed the strike in transporting, loading and unloading of goods through inland water routes till November 18 after a meeting with the administration.

However, the faction resumed their strike this morning after two more lighter vessels allegedly came under robbers’ attack in Munshiganj channel hours after the strike was withdrawn.

Police suspect that the robbery at Karnaphuli-5 was committed following an internal conflict between the crew and workers.