28 killed in Meghna

At least 28 people drowned and over 30 others went missing as a launch capsized in the Meghna in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria early yesterday.
The launch--MV Bipasha--sank around 1:30am after colliding with a stone-laden trawler that had already tipped over in the river at Char Kakoria, said survivors.
With some 200 passengers aboard, it was going to Jamalganj in Sunamganj from Bhairab.
Zohirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sarail Police Station, said the master tried to anchor the launch off the east bank of the river after it had developed a hole in its hull, but failed.
As the launch started to sink, many passengers jumped into the river and swam ashore, said eye-witnesses.
Five of the dead including a six-year-old girl could not be identified, Sarail Upazila Nirbahi Officer Helal Uddin told The Daily Star last evening.
Four fire service divers from Dhaka started rescue operation around 12:00noon and recovered the bodies with the help of locals. The rescue effort, however, was abandoned around 5:30pm due to poor visibility.
A salvage vessel from the capital was expected to reach Char Kakoria around 11:00pm to pull out the sunken launch, according to Moniruzzaman, assistant commissioner (land) of the Sarail Upazila Nirbahi office.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed profound shock at the deaths and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members, UNB reports.
The government has formed a three-member probe committee headed by Hasan Mahmud Tareque, chief engineer of the marine department of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, it added.
Meanwhile, Nurul Islam, a passenger who has survived the accident, claimed that the rescuers looked on as some bodies floated past them.
The rescuers, however, denied the allegation and said they could not enter the launch as its windows were blocked by sacks.
They said they had recovered three rifles of the policemen who were on duty when the launch went down. The cops have survived the accident, Sarail police said.
The 23 identified dead are Shyama Begum, 32, wife of Jainal Abedin of Kishoreganj; Chandana, six, daughter of Sukumar of Kishoreganj; Sufia Begum, 40, wife of Sujat Ali of Kishoreganj; Angura Begum, 35, wife of Selim Mia of Kishoreganj; Tanjina, one, daughter of Selim Mia of Kishoreganj; Babu, 35, son of Belayet Ali of Netrokona; Sonia, 20, daughter of Selim Mia of Narshingdi; Taslima, 25, wife of Amir Hossain of Sunamganj; Faijunness, 60, wife of Khurshed Alam of Sunamganj; Naganda Babu, 50, son of Nagarbasi of Kishoreganj; Kawsar, 15, son of Nurul Islam of Kishoreganj; Seema Bibi, 75, wife of Shajahan of Narsingdi; Sazib, 20, son of Amir Hossain of Kishoreganj; Parshuram, 25, son of Shyama Das of Kishoreganj; Elachi Begum, 50, wife of Md Ali of Kishoreganj; Seema, 18, daughter of Asgar Ali of Bhairab; Zahera Khatun, 50, wife of Ataur Mia of Narsingdi; Naeem, four, son of Nandu Mia of Narsingdi; Joya Khatun, 50, wife of Shamsul Haque of Kishoreganj; Hazera Begum, 45, wife of Md Ali of Bhairab; Kawsar, eight, son of Din Islam of Sunamganj; Sonia, 35, wife of Rijvi of Netrokona; and Abul Kalam, 30, son of Razzaque Mia of Habiganj. Kalam was an engine operator of the launch.