Mizanur Rahman
Two-year-old Azmir Hossain was playing on the lap of his grandfather on the Munshiganj-bound small vessel ML Sabit Al Hasan just before it was hit by a cargo vessel and capsized near Syedpur Koyla Ghat on the Shitalakkhya.
Minutes after, the grandfather, Saiful Islam, found him out of the vessel and he swam ashore.
Saiful Islam, a resident of Kalandi of Bandar in Narayanganj, remained at the accident spot and continued to find his grandson.
“Azmir was playing on my lap and we were sitting beside the window. Suddenly there was a very strong collision from the behind of the vessel and I found myself out in the waters and swimming with other passengers,” he said.
Saiful said, "I forgot everything for a moment. One boat rescued me and I was searching for my grandson. I could not save him. I have no words. How will I make Azmir’s parents calm? I want his body."
One of his neighbours Salma Begum told the Business Post, Azmir was staying with his mother but his father took him for the day on Sunday as there were separated. Later Saiful Islam was taking Amir back to his mother.
Azmir’s body was found inside the vessel after it was pulled out it from the water on Monday. Later the district administration handed it over to Saiful Islam.
Rescuers have found 21 bodies in the vessel that capsized on Sunday evening carrying about 50 passengers near the under-construction third Shitalakkhya Bridge in Narayanganj.
Five bodies were found in the river on the night immediately after the accident while one more body came afloat on Monday, taking the death toll from the incident to 27.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority director Rafiqul Islam confirmed the death toll to The Business Post.
Rafiqul said that there remained no other body inside the capsized vessel, which was taken to the shore by the rescuers on Monday. But eight people still remained missing, he said.
Quoting BIWTA, Narayanganj deputy commissioner Mustain Billah told The Business Post that the launch was carrying at least 46 passengers.
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