At least five people, including a woman and child, were killed after the rope of a launch snapped at Dhaka's Sadarghat terminal on Eid day Thursday, said a BIWTA official.
The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately.
"The incident occurred around 2:54 pm in front of pontoon no 11, Joint Director of BIWTA and Incharge of Sadarghat river port Alamgir Kabir confirmed.
"Two launches, MV Tusharif 4 and MV Pubali 1, were tied to the pontoon with ropes. When another launch named Farhan 4 tried to enter between the two launches, the rope of MV Tusharif 4 tore."
On impact, four people died on the spot and the child on the way to the hospital, Alamgir Kabir said.