Five detainees remanded following Sadarghat launch accident

Five suspects have been remanded to police custody for questioning regarding the launch accident that claimed five lives at Dhaka’s Sadarghat.

Sadarghat River Police Sub Inspector Nakib Aizul Haque, the investigating officer in the case, requested a 10-day remand from the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on Friday to interrogate the detainees. The defence representative filed a bail petition.

Following the hearing, Judge Arifa Chowdhury Himel denied the bail petition and ordered a three-day remand for the suspects, as confirmed by state lawyer Anowarul Kabir Babul.

The five individuals remanded are: Abdur Rouf Howladar, aged 54, the master of Farhan-6 Launch; Selim Howladar, also aged 54, the Second Master; Faruk Khan, aged 70, the Manager; Mizanur Rahman, aged 48, the master of Tasrif-4 Launch; and Moniruzzaman, aged 28, the Second Master.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, two launches, MV Tashrif 4 and MV Pubali 1, were tied to pontoon number 11 of the Sadarghat. The launches were tied to the pontoon with two ropes. When another launch named Farhan 6 tried to make way between these two launches, the rope of MV Tashrif 4 was torn.

At that time, five people were seriously injured while boarding the launch. They were sent to Mitford Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared them dead.