Avijan-10 Launch Owners, Drivers Responsible, Report Claims

Shipping Ministry has submitted a report claiming that the officials of the Shipping Department and BIWTA are responsible for the fire on Barguna-bound Avijan-10 launch, reports media.  

Four owners of the launch, two masters, and drivers are responsible for their negligence, according to the report.

Md Tofayel, joint secretary of the Shipping Ministry and also the convenor of the seven-member probe committee, submitted the report to Mohammad Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, secretary of the ministry.

The committee also made 25-point recommendations to avert accidents.

The fire broke out on the Barguna-bound launch carrying some 800 passengers from Dhaka in the middle of the Sugandha river on December 24 that left 49 people dead till today (Tuesday).

The blaze soon engulfed the entire vessel within 10 minutes.

The fire originated at the launch from a defected engine, the report said. The launch resumed operation after more than three months and the authorities did not check the launch properly.

Three of the launch owners Hamjalal Sheikh, Shamim Ahmed, Rassel Ahmed are in police custody.