Cement-laden vessel sinks in Dhaleshwari

A cargo vessel with 8,000 bags of cement capsized in the Dhaleshwari River near munshiganj launch terminal after a collision with a launch yesterday morning.
Ali Akber, owner of the vessel, said the Gabtoli-bound boat 'Khwaja Express' got stuck on a shoal in the river after leaving Muktarpur Premier Cement Factory.
The vessel was waiting for high tide near Shitalakkhya-Dhaleshari estuary, he added.
All of a sudden a double-decker passenger launch hit the front side of the vessel at around 6:30am and sped away. The vessel sank instantly and its staffs managed to swim ashore.
Ishaque Miah, one of the staffs, said the launch hit the cargo in dense fog and sped away.
M Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station said the launch, which hit the cement-laden vessel, could not be traced immediately.