Passenger launch escapes capsizing

Sundarban-9, a Patuakhali-bound launch carrying over six hundred passengers, was luckily saved from sinking in Meghna river early yesterday.

Saidur Rahaman Rintu, managing director of Sundarban Navigation, said, "The launch suddenly collided with a sunken cargo ship in the river near Miarchar of Hijla upazila in Barisal, causing a crack at the bottom of it." No major damage was reported with the launch immediately anchoring at a nearby char and passengers on board hurriedly coming out of it, he added.