Bangladesh: 39 killed as ferry catches fire midstream

In Bangladesh,at least 39 people were killed and more than 70 sustained burn injuries as a passenger ferry caught fire midstream in the Sugandha river near Jhalokati sadar upazila in the early hours of Friday. The death toll is likely to go up as several of the injured persons are in critical condition. More than 300 passengers were on board the MV Abhijan when the fire broke out. The passenger ferry was on its way to Baraguna from Dhaka. Fire department officials suspect that the fire originated in the engine room around  3 a.m. in the morning of Friday. The fire spread quickly and many of the passengers jumped into the river to save their lives. 15 firefighting units were able to bring the blaze under control by 5.30 a.m. said the Fire service department.

Bangladesh government set up a seven-member committee to enquire into the reasons for the accident and submit its report within three working days. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport authority also formed a separate six-member committee to investigate the incident.The incident is another in the series of similar incidents in Bangladesh. Earlier this year, in August 21 people were killed when two boats collided near Laishka Beel in Brahmanbaria district. At least 25 people had died in a collision between a speedboat and sand carrier in Padma river near Madaripur district in May. A  ferry accident in Narayanganj district had claimed 27 people in April. Poor safety standards and overcrowding are considered the probable reasons for such accidents in Bangladesh.