Launch fire: 30 victims laid to rest in Barguna

Thirty victims of the launch fire incident were laid to rest in Barguna on Saturday.

The namaz-e-janaza of the victims was held at Circuit House ground around 11:00 am, said Deputy Commissioner Habibur Rahman.

Later, they were buried (separately) at Potkakhali, he added.

At least 40 people were burnt alive and more than 100 others got injured after a deadly fire broke out at the MV Obhijan-10, a passenger launch plying Jhalakathi’s Sugandha River in the early hours of Friday.

Local administration officials told The Business Post that the fire originated on the Barguna-bound three-storey vessel around 3:00 am, which was carrying over 800 passengers from Sadarghat Launch Terminal in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Shipping on Friday formed a seven-member committee to probe the fire incident.

The government also announced Tk 1.5 lakh as compensation for each of the victims’ families.

Besides, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) also formed a six-member probe body over the incident.