Govt forms seven-member body to probe launch fire

36 bodies are recovered as of Friday morning as launch catches fire mid-river in Jhalakathi on 24 December 2021
Collected

The government Friday set up a seven-member committee to probe the early morning launch fire that left at least 36 people dead, reports UNB.

Joint secretary of the shipping ministry Tofayel Ahmed has been made the probe panel's convener, while deputy secretary Aminur Rahman will act as its member secretary, according to a notification issued by the ministry.

The committee has been asked to submit a report to the shipping ministry within three working days, it said.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority also formed a separate six-member committee to investigate the launch fire. Md Saiful Islam, additional director of port and transportation department, will head the committee.

The government notification comes hours after the devastating fire on Avijan-10 carrying some 800 passengers from Dhaka to Barguna claimed the lives of 36 people and left 72 others injured.

The blaze, in fact, began on Avijan-10 in the middle of the Sugandha river off the coast of Jhalokati district's sadar upazila around 3:00am. Within five to 10 minutes, the flames engulfed the entire vessel.