Manikganj, Bangladesh (BBN)-At least 41 people including children and women drowned when a launch sank in the Padma river in Manikganj, a central district of Bangladesh, on Sunday.
Of the deceased, five are children, local police said.
Several passengers still remained missing as a cargo trawler, Nargis-1, hit the launch on Paturia-Daulatdia route around 12noon, locals said.
Bangladesh government formed a five-member committee to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, law enforcers managed to seize the cargo trawler and detained its master and his assistant in connection with the accident.
In the backdrop of the situation, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan visited the spot.
The launch, MV Mostafa, was heading towards Daulatdia from Paturia carrying dozens of passengers, local police said.
MV Mostafa could not survive the collision and capsized, witnesses said.
Most of the passengers were rescued immediately after the incident.
Rescue operation was going on when this report was updated around 8:30pm.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation, divers from Fire Service and Civil Defence and locals joined the salvage operation.
BBN/ASI/AD-22Feb15-5:00pm (BST)
