Five Die As Rope Of Launch Snapped At Sadarghat

Five people, including a woman and a child, were killed as the rope of a launch tied at Sadarghat in Dhaka snapped on Thursday afternoon, on the day of Eid.

The accident occurred around 3pm on Thursday, according to Mahfuzur Rahman Mia, chief of the Kotwali Police Station.

Naval police superintendent (crime and operations) Ashiq Saeed confirmed the death of five people to the media.

Two launches – the MV Tashrif-4 and the MV Pubali-1 were tied to the No. 11 pontoon with rope, the Fire Service said in a statement.

“Another launch named the Farhan was trying to dock between the two launches and the MV Tashrif-4’s rope tore,” the statement added.

The dead have been identified as Rabiul, 19, Bellal, 25, his wife Mukta, 26, their daughter Maisha, 3 - all identified with a single name - and Ripon Howlader, 38, said Abul Kalam Azad, chief of the Sadarghat River Police Station.

Later on the bodies of the victims have been taken to Mitford Hospital.

The injured were rescued in critical condition and admitted to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, where the physicians declared them dead, said Ashiq Saeed.