A launch was damaged after it collided with a cargo vessel amid dense fog on the Padma River in Chandpur's Amirabad area early Sunday.
The incident occurred around 6:30am when the Muladi-bound passenger launch from Dhaka, MV Maharaj-7, was anchored due to poor visibility and a nearby cargo vessel, which had also been anchored, hit the launch while starting its journey, damaging the left side of the second deck.
No casualties were reported.
According to launch manager Mahfuzul Haque Masum, the Maharaj-7 left Dhaka at 8:45pm yesterday. Due to dense fog, it anchored in the Amirabad area of the Padma. At that time, a cargo vessel began moving and rammed into the launch, breaking two pillars and part of the railing.
He said the launch is expected to reach Muladi by around 1:30pm.
BIWTA Traffic Inspector Akhtar Hossain of the Naval Safety Department said parts of the launch's second-deck railing and flooring were damaged. "Once the launch arrives at Muladi terminal, we will get complete information," he added.
He also said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has suspended all vessel movement due to dense fog and warned that legal action will be taken, with assistance from the River Police and Coast Guard, against those violating the directive.
Earlier on Thursday, four people were killed when two passenger launches collided on the Meghna River in Chandpur's Haimchar area amid dense fog. In another incident in Narayanganj, two people died after the launch Sundarban-16 hit a bulkhead.
Chandpur River Police Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Hossain said that despite restrictions, launches continue operating during dense fog, increasing the risk of accidents.
Meanwhile, Mobarak Hossain Khan, joint director of BIWTA's Naval Safety Traffic Management Department, said route permits of three launches have been cancelled due to violations and accidents. An eight-member investigation committee has also been formed.
He added that movement of all types of vessels had been banned in advance due to dense fog.
