A tragic collision between two passenger launches at Sadarghat River Port has left one young man dead and prompted a temporary suspension of rescue operations, authorities confirmed on Wednesday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Sohel, 22, a resident of Mehendiganj Upazila. According to police, he succumbed to severe blood loss following the incident, which occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. near pontoon number 14 of the bustling river terminal.
Officials from Kotwali Police Station reported that the accident took place when a passenger launch named “Asha Jaoa-5,” operating on the Dhaka–Ilisha route, was in the process of boarding passengers from a smaller vessel. At that moment, another launch, “MV Zakir Samrat-3,” travelling along the Dhaka–Deula–Ghosherhat route, struck it from behind.
Footage of the incident, widely circulated on social media, appears to show the rear corner of the larger vessel crashing into the side of “Asha Jaoa-5.” The impact reportedly crushed two passengers. One individual was seen falling into the river, while another remained critically injured on the outer section of the vessel.
Assistant Commissioner Fazlul Haque of the Kotwali division confirmed that Sohel’s body was later recovered and taken to hospital. He further disclosed that Sohel’s father-in-law, Miraj Fakir, remains missing following the collision, raising concerns that he may have fallen into the river during the chaos. Meanwhile, Sohel’s mother-in-law, Ruba Fakir, sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
Rescue efforts were launched promptly after the accident. According to Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, two divers were deployed in the evening to search for any missing individuals. However, no additional victims were located during the initial operation.
By approximately 8:45 p.m., officials announced that the search had been suspended due to poor visibility and safety concerns after nightfall. Rescue operations are scheduled to resume early the following morning, with renewed efforts to locate the missing individual.
Incident Summary
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Sadarghat River Port, Dhaka |
| Time of Incident | حوالي 5:30 p.m., Wednesday |
| Deceased | Sohel, 22, from Mehendiganj |
| Missing Person | Miraj Fakir |
| Injured | Ruba Fakir |
| Vessels Involved | Asha Jaoa-5 and MV Zakir Samrat-3 |
| Cause | Collision during passenger boarding |
| Rescue Status | Suspended at night, to resume next morning |
Sadarghat, one of the busiest river ports in South Asia, frequently witnesses heavy congestion, particularly during peak travel hours. Maritime safety experts have long warned that inadequate traffic management and overcrowding increase the risk of such accidents.
Authorities have indicated that an investigation will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the collision and to assess whether negligence or violations of navigation protocols contributed to the incident.