The death toll from the deadly fire in launch MV Avijan-10 in the Sugandha River near Jhalakathi rose to 42 with the recovery of another body from the Bishkhali River at Shachilapur in Jhalakathi district Monday morning.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Md Zohar Ali said firefighters recovered the body from the river around 9 am after being informed by the local police.
The deceased was identified as Hakim Sharif, 60, hailing from Barguna sadar upazila.
Hakim’s cousin, Kohinur Begum, identified the body.
Read: Launch fire: One owner held in Keraniganj
Three of his family members -- wife Priya Begum, 55, daughter Hafsa,17, and son Nasir Ullah,2, -- with whom he was travelling to Barguna remained missing.
However, Coast Guard members and firefighters continued their search operation in the Sugandha River for the 4th consecutive day on Monday.
Meanwhile, the police control room set up at the launch terminal provided the information of 47 missing passengers so far, said Md Salauddin, sub-inspector of Jhalakathi Sadar police station.
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested Hamjalal Sheikh, one of the owners of launch MV ‘Avijan-10’, in connection with the deadly fire incident in the launch.