Manikganj Correspondent

The Ministry of Shipping on Wednesday formed a seven-member committee to investigate the partially sinking of a Ro Ro ferry Shah Amanat at Paturia Ghat in Manikganj.

Additional secretary (development) of the ministry Sultan Abdul Hamid has been made convener of the committee. It was asked to submit its report within the next seven days, said a ministry press release.

The committee has been tasked to look into the other ferry accidents and give recommendation to improve the ferry services.
Other members of the committee are: director (ICT) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Rafiqul Islam Talukder, Nautical Surveyor and Examiner of Shipping Department Captain Sayeed Ahmed, deputy director of local government of Manikganj district, Associate Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dr Zobair Ibn Awal, Superintendent of River Police Zasim Uddin and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) director (technical) Rashedul Islam.

The ferry Shah Amanat tilted and part of the ferry went into water while it was anchoring at the pontoon of ghat number 5 at Paturia. As a result, some vehicles on the ferry also went into the river around 9:30am today.

Deputy General Manager (DGM) of BIWTC at Paturia Ghat Zillur Rahman said four covered vans and trucks were rescued so far from the tilted ferry till 6 pm.

The divers of BIWTC and Bangladesh Navy and Fire Service have, however, been working continuously for rescuing the trucks and other vehicles, he added.