Brahmanbaria boat capsize: 7 staffers of two vessels sued

Seven staffers of two sand-carrying vessels, which hit and capsized a boat in Brahmanbaria Friday evening, were sued in a case over the death of 22 people in the incident.

Selim Mia, who lost four relatives, filed the case with Bijaynagar Police Station under The Inland Shipping Ordinance, 1976 and Penal Code, said Imtiaz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of (special branch) of the district police.

Five of the accused -- Jamir Mia, master of one of the vessels; his two associates—Khokon Mia, Rasel Mia, and two staffers of another vessel, namely Mistu Mia and Solaiman Mia were so far arrested, he said.

Akhtaruzzaman, assistant director of Fire Service in the distrcit, said they postponed the rescue operation around 2:45pm as no one is reportedly missing.

"We are making announcement for reporting us if relatives of anyone is still missing. If we get such complaints, we will resume the rescue operation again," he said.

Witnesses said more than 100 people were on board when the boat left the Champaknagar area for Brahmanbaria town around 5:30 pm yesterday.

As the boat reached the Dewdona area, it collided with a small dinghy and the boatman lost its control. The boat was then hit by two sand-carrying vessels coming from the opposite direction before it capsized, said, survivors and witnesses.
Police seized the two vessels after the incident.