MV Miraj-4 launch owner, staff sued

This May 15 photo shows people gather on the bank of Meghna river where launch MV Miraj-4 capsized, killing at least 56 people. A salvage ship is seen in the photo trying to recover the sunken vessel.

Four days into the launch capsize in Meghna river, police today filed a case against owner and six staff of MV Miraj-4.

Haider Ali Akond, a sub-inspector of Gazaria Police Station of Munshiganj, filed the case against Khandaker Anwar Hossain, owner of MV Miraj-4, its six employees and several unknown persons on charges of rash driving and overloading goods and passengers.

The six other staff are: Rafiqul Islam, Shamsuddin, Mintu, Dulal, Shahid and Nurul Islam. Of them, Rafiqul was the master of the launch.

Meanwhile, the body of one more victim was recovered in the Meghna river last night, raising the death toll from the launch capsize to 56, reports our Munshiganj correspondent.

Police has filed the case as the authorities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), who was supposed to file the case, is yet to lodge any case in connection with the capsize, said Md Zakir Hossain, superintendent of police of Munshiganj.

The launch sank Thursday afternoon around 200 passengers on board in Meghna river of Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj during a nor'wester.