Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The death toll from Friday’s launch capsize in the Meghna river at Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj district in Bangladesh. rose to 14 with the recovery of two more bodies on Saturday.
Thirty six other passengers who could not be traced till Saturday are feared to have met watery grave, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the Fire Service and Civil Defence authorities also declared the rescue operation closed with the salvage of sunken vessel on Saturday morning.
The rescue operation was called off around 10:15am after rescue vessel MV Rustom salvaged the launch, the DC said.
The Matlab-bound launch capsized in Meghna river at Gazaria upazila in the district after being hit by a sand-laden cargo on Friday morning.
Twelve of the victims were identified so far.
They are: Hajera Begum Baby, 48, Majibor, 45, Shahjalal, 38, Suman, 30, Mayna Akter, 26, Helena Akter, 18, Taniya, 17, Moni Akter, 15, Ibrahim Khalil, 8, Mim, 8, Sanjid, 3, Prince, 1.
BBN/SSR/AD-09Feb13-3:02 pm (BST)
