Vessels collide

Double-decker launch MV Saharukh-1 with around 2000 passengers on board luckily escaped from possible capsize in the Bishkali river of Jhalakathi.

Mohammad Jasim, a passenger of the launch, said Shaharuk-1 plying from Barguna to Dhaka via Barisal left Barguna launch ghat around 2:30pm full of passengers on Tuesday.

Launch Master Ujir Ali said when the launch was crossing Gabkhan channel through the Bishkhali river around 8:00pm, a cargo-laden vessel hit the launch from opposite side and caused small crack on the launch.

Iqbal Hossain, a passenger, said they requested launch master and other staff not to run launch in such a vulnerable condition, but they did not care.

The six-inch crack was above the three-foot high from the water level, so they decided to continue plying and reached Barisal around 9:30 pm, said  Ujir Ali.

After reaching Barisal River Port, the authorities concerned cancelled the trip of  MV Saharukh-1 and shifted passengers to another launch, said Ajmol Huda, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Abu Helal Siddiki, engineer of BIWTA, said the crack might get wider if the launch plied further. So they cancelled its trip.