Two launches collided on the Meghna River in Chandpur amid dense fog on Sunday but the passengers remained unhurt.
Sheikh Abdur Sabur, Sub-Inspector (SI) at the Chandpur Regional Office of the Naval Police, said the two launches were damaged after the collision but no casualty was reported.
Passengers said Prince Awlad-10 while heading to Barishal from Dhaka and Dhaka-bound MV Kirtonkhola-10 collided in the mid-river due to poor visibility caused by the dense fog, creating panic among passengers who screamed for help.
Another launch, Shuboraj-9, arrived from Dhaka and transported the stranded passengers of Prince Awlad-10 to Barishal. Kirtonkhola-10, which suffered minimal damage, reached Dhaka after some delay.
Somor Krishna, a Traffic Inspector (TI) from the Naval Safety Management Department at Chandpur Launch Terminal, said the collision occurred near the Harina Ferry Ghat in Chandpur Sadar while the two launches were crossing the Meghna River amidst dense fog.
He said Prince Awlad-10 was carrying 580 passengers, who were safely transferred to another vessel to reach their destination.
SI Sheikh Abdur Sabur aid although the exact location of the collision in the Meghna River is yet to be determined, the incident was reported via a 999 call from a passenger of Kirtonkhola-10.