Launch fire: 2 drivers denied bail, sent to jail

A court has sent two drivers of MV Avijan-10 launch to jail after rejecting their bail petitions.   

They are Md Masum Billah, in-charge driver of the launch and its second driver Abul Kalam. 

Special Metropolitan Magistrate Joynab Begum of Dhaka’s Marine Court passed the order on Sunday. 

Bellal Hossain, Prosecuting Officer of the Marine Transport Directorate, confirmed the matter to Jago News. 

Earlier on December 28, Md Riaz Sikder, in-charge driver of the launch and its second driver Md Khalilur Rahman surrendered before the court and filed bail petitions. The court also rejected the bail petitions and directed to send them to the jail.

On December 26, Marine Directorate Chief Inspector Md Shafiqur Rahman filed a case against eight people including them at the same court. Later, the court issued arrest warrants against them taking the case into cognizance.

A massive fire broke out at Barguna-bound MV Avijan-10 in the Sugandha river in Deuri area under Ponabalia union on December 24.

A total of 44 people, so far, died, and many remain missing in the incident. And many others are being treated at hospitals with burn injuries.