State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said on Monday that if the surveyors of the Bangladesh Water Transport Authority were found to be negligent in the Dhaka River Port accident, they too would be brought to justice.聽
He made the remark while addressing media at his office at the Secretariat in the capital, said a press release.
He further said that measures have been taken over all accidents that occurred on inland water routes, whether at Sadarghat, Bhola, Chandpur, Barishal, or mid-river.聽
鈥榃e were in a festive mood on Eid day, and such an incident dulled the joy. Many people involved with the ship fled. A few were arrested by law enforcement agencies,鈥� the state minister said.聽
On April 11, on the Eid day, the accident took place when MV Farhan-6 tried to enter between two anchored launches MV Tasrif-4 and MV Pubali-1 at pontoon 11 at Sadarghat in the capital at about 3:00pm.
The anchor rope of MV Tasrif tore and hit the five as they were about to board the launch, leaving them dead.
鈥楢 case was filed. An investigation committee was formed. We are determined to bring the guilty to justice. Route permits of the launches have already been cancelled,鈥� he added.聽
The state minister said that action would be taken against those launches, owned by powerful individuals, which forcefully insert themselves between anchored launches to secure a spot risking accident.
Five staff members of MV Farhan-6 and Tasrif-4 were arrested on April 11 for their alleged involvement in causing the deaths due to negligence, fast and reckless driving and using old rope in the case filed with the South Keraniganj police station by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority traffic management department joint director Muhammad Ismail Hossain.聽聽
On April 12, they were put on three-day remand that ended on Sunday.
On Monday, the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court sent the arrestees to jail, said Sadarghat Naval Police station officer-in-charge Md Abul Kalam.
鈥楾hey arrestees did not give any confessional statement,鈥� the OC said.