DHAKA, Jan 04, 2022 (BSS) - A court here today ordered prison authorities 
to produce three owners of Abhijan-10 launch before it on January 19 in a 
case lodged over the devastating fire that engulfed the vessel, killing 49 of 
its passengers recently.

   Special Metropolitan Magistrate Joynab Begum of Dhaka's Marine Court 
passed the order, showing Hamjalal Sheikh, 55, Md Shamim Ahmed, 43, and Md 
Russel Ahmed, 43, arrested in the case.

   The court passed the order as Department of Shipping Prosecuting Officer 
Bellal Hossain pleaded to show the three arrested in the case and produce 
them before the court.

   Earlier on January 2, two other accused, MV Abhijan's in-charge driver Md 
Masum Billah and second driver Abul Kalam, surrendered before the court and 
pleaded for bail. The court scrapped their pleas and sent the duo to jail. 
The same court on December 28 had sent launch's in-charge master Md Riaj 
Shikder and second master Md Khalilur Rahman to jail.

   Department of Shipping Chief Inspector Md Shafikur Rahman filed the case 
with the marine court on December 26 under sections 56/66 and 70 of Special 
Marine Act against eight.

   According to the case documents, MV Abhijan started its voyage with 
several hundred passengers for Barguna from capital's Sadarghat Launch 
Terminal on December 23. As the vessel was crossing Nalchiti area of 
Jhalakathi, its engine room caught fire. In spite of the fire, the launch 
officials did not anchor even though they had enough time. The whole launch 
burnt on Sugandha River, turning many of its passengers to ashes.

   As the launch officials did not take appropriate steps, 42 passengers 
(which have jumped to 49 till now) burnt to death and around 150 were 
seriously injured, the plaintiff said in his allegations.

  The vessel did not have appropriate number of fire extinguishers, life 
boya, life jackets, sand boxes or buckets.