Sadarghat launch collision: 5 arrested; 1 passenger still missing after 48hrs
Case filed citing reckless navigation and causing death through negligence
Police have arrested five staff members of two launches in a case filed over a collision at Sadarghat Launch Terminal that left one person dead, one missing and another critically injured.
Confirming the development today (20 March), River Police (Dhaka region) Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al-Mamun told The Business Standard that the accused have been arrested and sent to court.
"The arrests were made after the brother of the missing passenger filed a case with South Keraniganj Police Station," he said.
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"The case names seven individuals and four to five unidentified persons, citing reckless navigation and causing death through negligence," he added.
The missing passenger, identified as Miraj, 42, has remained missing for more than 48 hours, according to Sadarghat River Police.
Search efforts are underway to locate him.
The collision occurred on 18 March around 5:30pm near pontoon number 14 of the terminal.
According to police, while passengers were boarding the launch Asa Jawa-5 (Dhaka-Ilisha) using a trawler, another launch, MV Zakir Samrat-3 (Dhaka-Deula-Ghosherhat), rammed into it, causing Miraj to fall into the river.
His son Sohel, 22, was crushed to death at the scene, while Sohel's wife Ruba Akter, 20, was trapped between the two launches and fell into the Buriganga River. She was later rescued and is undergoing treatment in critical condition at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital.
Police said the body of Sohel was handed over to the family on the day of the incident without an autopsy at their request. The investigation into the collision is ongoing.
