Jhalakathi launch fire: Death toll now 50 as another victim dies

The death toll from the deadly Jhalakathi launch fire rose to 50, with another victim succumbing to her injuries at a Dhaka hospital on Tuesday night.

A fire broke out on the Barguna-bound MV Avijan-10 launch carrying some 800 passengers from Dhaka, off the coast of Jhalakathi on December 24.

The deceased was identified as Manika Rani Haldar, an assistant teacher at Gagan Memorial High School.

Manika, who had suffered 30% burns and was on life support in the intensive care unit of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, passed away around 9:30pm, said resident surgeon Dr SM Ayub Hossain.

The toll reached 49 on January 3, with the death of another person, a 38-year-old, at the institute.

On December 26, the chief inspector of the Department of Shipping, Shafiqur Rahman, filed a case against eight people, including four co-owners of the launch, under the Marine Act in the Marine Court.