BIWTA Forms Probe Committee Over Sadarghat Launch Accident

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has formed a three-member committee to investigate the launch accident that left five people dead on Thursday afternoon.

The committee headed by BIWTA Director (Purchase and Conservation) Md Rafiqul Islam has been asked to submit a report within 5 working days, said Md Jahangir Alam Khan, senior information and public relations officer of the Shipping Ministry.

The other members of the committee are Joint Director of Naval Conservation and Management Department Md Azgar Ali and Joint Director of Port Branch Md Kabir Hossain.

Earlier around 2:54 pm, five people, including a woman and child, were killed after the rope of a launch  snapped at Dhaka's Sadarghat terminal.

"Two launches, MV Tusharif 4 and MV Pubali 1, were tied to the pontoon with ropes. When another launch named Farhan 4 tried to enter between the two launches, the rope of MV Tusharif 4 tore."

On impact, four people died on the spot and the child on the way to the hospital, said Alamgir Kabir, joint director of BIWTA and incharge of Sadarghat river port._UNB