According to a media report on Monday, at least 26 people died after a small launch carrying over 100 passengers capsized after colliding with a cargo vessel in Bangladesh's Shitalakkhya river.

On Sunday evening, the incident occurred in the Narayanganj district, about 16 kilometers southeast of Dhaka.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, the Navy, Coast Guard, fire service, and police recovered a total of 21 bodies on Monday, up from five on Sunday.

After colliding with the cargo ship SKL-3 at the mouth of the Syedpur Koyla Ghat on the Shitalakkhya River in Munshiganj, the passenger vessel ML Sabit Al Hasan sank. The freight vessel fled the scene after the crash, according to police and onlookers.

According to the paper, the launch was en route to Munshiganj.

Compensation and investigation

According to Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Mostain Billah, a seven-member committee led by an Additional District Magistrate (ADM) has been created to investigate the incident.

He added that the district administration would reward each of the deceased's families with Tk25,000 (USD 296) for the burial process.

According to the paper, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has appointed a four-member committee to investigate the incident.

The number of passengers on board was estimated to be about 150. Deepak Chandra Saha, the Port Police Officer-in-Charge (OC), reported that 50-60 of them were able to swim between the two banks, but three had to be rushed to the hospital.

Abdullah Al Arefin, Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense in Narayanganj District, said they were late in beginning the rescue work because of the storm. He stated that the rescue operation is still underway.