At least 40 people were killed and more than 72 sustained burn injuries after a launch caught fire in the Sugandha river in Jhalakathi in the early hours of Friday.
The Barguna-bound MV Abhijan-10 launch that started the journey from Dhaka caught fire at around 3 am. The launch was carrying over 500 passengers including children and the elderly.
The injured passengers were admitted to Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital and Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal for treatment. A special team of doctors and nurses were sent to Barisal from Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Md Abdul Hamid have expressed shock at the loss of lives and injuries to passengers in Jhalakathi launch fire. In their messages of condolence, they prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved families.
Prime Minister, now staying in Maldives on a bilateral visit, has inquired about the incident and ordered the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to ensure proper treatment of the injured people and hand over the bodies to their relatives quickly.
Coast Guard personnel and firefighters are carrying out rescue operations with the assistance of district administration and police officials.
According to the information of Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Johar Ali, 40 bodies were recovered from the blazing launch till the filing of this report.
According to a fire service control room message, after receiving information about the launch fire, 15 firefighting units led by Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, deputy director of Barishal Division Fire Service and Civil Defence went to the scene at around 3:50 am and brought the fire under control at 5:20 am.
Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan told the media, “It is being suspected that the fire originated from the engine room of the launch.”
A seven-member inquiry committee has been formed by the Ministry of Shipping to probe the fire incident.
Shipping Ministry Joint Secretary Tofail Ahmed has been made the convener of the committee, while Deputy Secretary Aminur Rahman will work as the member secretary.
Besides, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has also formed a six-member probe committee to look into the fire incident.
Meanwhile, a five-member investigation committee headed by Jhalokathi Additional Deputy Commissioner Nazmul Alam has been asked to submit its report within three working days.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that the government will provide financial assistance of Tk 1.5 lakh to each of the families of those who died in the launch fire.
“They will be also provided with Tk 25,000 to meet funeral expenses,” he added.
Meanwhile, relatives of the victims from Barguna and surrounding areas came to Jhalakathi launch terminal after hearing the news of the fire.
The tragic incident has created emotional anguish among the relatives of the victims. A mournful atmosphere is prevailing in Barguna in the wake of the tragic incident.
Most of the fire victims could not be identified as their faces were disfigured by fire.
Md Harun of Barguna, who came to search for the missing relatives, said his daughter Remu Begum (21) and grandson Lima (11) were missing.
Al-Amin, a relative of a victim hailing from the same area, said his elder brother Idris (60), was missing.
Many passengers jumped into the river to save themselves from the fire.
Sonia Begum, a surviving passenger of the launch, said, “I saw the fire and jumped into the river with my 11-month-old son Zubair. I was able to swim ashore at seven. But my mother Rekha Begum (40) and son Junaid (5) are still missing.”
Robiul Islam, another surviving passenger of the launch, said that many people died from the smoke and gas following the fire.
