The MV Farhan-6 launch was seized from its own dockyard in Dhaka's Kaliganj area after a trawler sank in the Dhaleshwari river in Narayanganj. Besides, the naval police have arrested 4 people including the driver and master of the launch.
BIWTA Joint Director Joynal Abedin confirmed the information on Wednesday night (January 5). The launch's route permit has been revoked. He said that preparations are underway to file a case in this regard. According to the launch owners' association, the owner of the MV Farhan-6 passenger launch is Barisal-3 MP Golam Kibria Tipu.
Meanwhile, 10 hours have passed since the trawler sank due to the impact of the launch, but 8 passengers including the trawler have not been found yet. They include a child and four members of the same family.
The missing persons are Abdullah (22), son of Idris Ali of Niamatpur area of Kishoreganj, Motaleb (42) son of Roksat Ali of North Gopalnagar area of Fatullah, Sabbir (18) son of Raju Sarkar of Charbaktabali and Jasmine Akter (30) wife of Sohail Miah of the same family, her daughter Tasmin Akhter, Tasfia Akhter and son Tamim (2), Muazzin Abdullah of North Gopal Nagar Mosque.
Witnesses said the trawler was carrying passengers from Sipaibari ghat to Dharmaganj ghat. The trawler driver could not see clearly in the thick fog in the morning. At that time a MV Farhan-6 from Barisal to Dhaka collided with a launch. Immediately the trawler sank in the river. Most of the passengers were able to swim to shore, but 8 are still missing.
It is said that the trawler was carrying mostly garment workers. Relatives are crowding the shores of Dhaleshwari in search of the missing after the accident. Among them are four members of the same family. There is also a two-year-old child. More than 10 thousand people travel through this ghat every day. Only one trawler is used for people crossing. As it is a trawler, passengers have to wait for hours. Due to this the passengers actually stumbled on the trawler at the wharf.
Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director of the district fire service and civil defense, said rescuers began the operation after receiving the news. No one has been rescued so far. The location of the sunken trawler could not be ascertained. The rescue operation has been carried out till 6 pm and the rescue operation will start from 8 am tomorrow.