One killed as 2 launches collide mid-river  

A Chandpur-bound launch today collided head-on with a Dhaka-bound passenger ship on the Dhaleswari river at Charkishorganj border area of Narayanganj and Munshiganj, killing one and injuring others as several go missing.

The accident took place last night around 1.35am Saturday.

Naval police sources informed the accident happened due to heavy fog in the waterway around midnight.

Abdul Hakim, in charge of the Narayanganj Naval Police outpost, confirmed the matter to The Business Standard, saying, "The Chandpur-bound launch Bogdadia-13 collided head-on with the Dhaka-bound Manikchand-4, killing one passenger, identified as Humayun from Chandpur."

The injured were taken to Mitford Hospital of the capital.

Mostafizur Rahman, inspector in-charge of Kalagachhia Police Outpost in Bandar Upazila of Naryanganj, said, "On information of the accident, a rescue team of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority reached the spot and started operation around 8.30am. The police with them are jointly conducting a search operation."

However, so far, no relatives of the missing have claimed them yet.

Md Alep Uddin, senior assistant director of RAB-1 headquarters at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj, said, "I have spoken to the officers of their headquarters, including all the Narayanganj and Munshiganj police stations. However, we have no news that anyone is missing."

The RAB official added the incident is under observation and a rescue operation will be launched if anybody is reported to be missing.