Photo: Collected
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed to have arrested one Akash Mondal alias Irfan in connection with the murders of seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel MV Al-Bakhera in the Meghna River near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila.
A message sent from the elite force said the accused was arrested from Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat. But it didn't mention the time when he was arrested.
On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday.
Expressing grave grief, the Ministry of Industries on Tuesday formed a four member probe body headed by an additional secretary and asked to submit a report within five working days.
Family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. They made the demand while receiving the bodies from Chandpur Sadar Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased were Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailinh from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, a sailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj.
Messenger/Tareq
