DHAKA: All search operations to trace the drowned passenger ferry Pinak-6 had been called off.

Munsiganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Saiful Hasan Badal told media at a press briefing at 11:00am on Monday at Padma Rest House in Munshiganj.

He said that, however, the government has decided to keep a rescue vessel in Mawa Ghat permanently to quick rescue of any launch or water vessel and avoid any unexpected situation from now on.

At that time, he proposed the name of Rustam and Nirvik to provide anyone of these two as the permanent vessel.

Moreover, according to him, decisions were also taken to continue the recovery of bodies floating in the rivers as well as to examine the metallic image found on the river bed and the rescue vessel which will be kept there will help if any metal object found seems to be like the sunken launch, ML Pinak-6.

Munshiganj DC informed media that the decisions were taken after the consultation with shipping minister Shahjahan Khan and other authorities concerned.

Till Monday noon, the death toll rose to 46, in which 28 bodies were handed over to their family and unidentified 17 were buried while unidentified one is yet to burry.

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 61 people remained missing in this incident.

BDST: 1160 HRS, AUG 11, 2014