RAB Operation

Collected Rapid Action Battalion (left) at the scene, RAB Helicopter in rescue operation on the right

RAB DG present at the spot with helicopter to rescue those injured in ferry fire

At noon on Friday (December 24), ASP ANM Imran Khan, assistant director of the legal and media wing at RAB headquarters, said RAB was conducting rescue operations at the scene of the launch fire on the Sugandha river. RAB Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and Director of Legal and Media Wing of RAB Headquarters Khandaker Al Moin visited the spot. He added that helicopters would be used to search for missing persons in the river, including sending the burn victims to hospitals.

The fire broke out on the MV Abhiyan-10 launch bound for Barguna from Dhaka at around 3am on Friday (December 23). Upon receiving the news, the Coast Guard and Fire Service of Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna and Jhalokati started the rescue operation. So far, the death toll from the launch fire has risen to 40. Among the burn victims, 72 have been admitted to Barisal Medical College Hospital. The rest were taken to various hospitals in the area.

It is learned that there were thousands of passengers in the launch. The launch caught fire while on the SuganHelicopter dha River. The wrecked launch was later diverted to the nearby Diakul area.

Several passengers of the launch said that a fire broke out in the engine room of the launch around 3 a.m. Later the fire spread to the whole launch. Several passengers were burnt during the launch. Many jumped into the river to save their lives.

Meanwhile, divers from the Coast Guard, fire service and naval police have launched an operation to rescue those who jumped into the river to escape the blaze. Three teams of three forces started the rescue operation from 11 am on Friday. The Ministry of Shipping has formed a seven-member investigation committee to probe the fire. The inquiry committee has been directed to submit a report to the ministry within the next three working days.