FROM MAWA GHAT, MUNSHIGANJ: Search operation of sunken launch, ML Pinak-6, near Mawa Ghat has been resumed from Sunday noon.

Earlier, attempts to trace physical existence of the launch were postponed due to bad weather since Saturday 10pm.

Confirming the matter to banglanews, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Director Mohammad Hossain said that drive to search the launch was resumed after a 13 hour halt.

“BIWTA rescue team started the searching after the weather became calm in the noon and later Navy members companied them,” he added.

He said, besides, rescue vessel Kandari-2 with Jarip-10 and other ships also restarted searching for Pinak-6 in the mid Padma after 11:30am.

Earlier, rescue vessel Kandari-2 and other ships were to suspend the search operation after 10pm for rough weather.

Kandari-2 commander Manjur, at that time, said that rough weather has forced divers to postpone their search attempt for the sunken launch.

However, on Saturday, Kandari-2 detected a metallic object, which was much similar to capsized ML Pinak-6, under water of the Padma River near Mawa Ghat, on six days of the accident but later there was a rumor that it was not the sunken launch.

In the meantime, the death toll rose to 46, in which 28 bodies were handed over to their family and unidentified 18 were buried as anonymous.

The launch, Pinak-6, was carrying more than 200 passengers capsized near Mawa Ghat in Lohajang upazila of Munshiganj district on Monday morning.

BIWTA has charged six people including the owner of the passenger ferry, its pilot and helmsman with causing death by negligence after the vessel sank.

Still more than 100 people remained missing in this incident.

** Pinak yet to trace, death toll 42

BDST: 1304 HRS, AUG 10, 2014