Owner sued for Barisal trawler capsize

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) today filed a case against owner of the trawler that capsized in Sandhya river in Barisal on Wednesday, leaving at least 26 people dead.

Mustafizur Rahman, BIWTA's port officer in Barisal, filed the case with the Marine Court against the trawler owner Yousuf Hossain and its staff Nayan Ahmed for negligence of their duties.

Talking to The Daily Star, Mustafizur confirmed the matter this evening.

Oishi Plus, a mechanised boat, capsized in the Sandhya river in Banaripara upazila on September 21, Wednesday. At least 26 passengers died and few others remained missing following the accident.

Meanwhile, police yesterday filed a case with Banaripara police station against the duo for their negligence of duties.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Mustafizur Rahman said the boat was not registered as a passenger-carrying vessel and had no valid route permit.

It used to ply on different waterways as passenger vessel in the area illegally.