DHAKA: Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said three of his nieces were in Pinak-6, the launch that capsized in the Padma River near Mawa Ghat in Lauhajang upazila on Monday with over 200 people on board.

The ruling Awami League lawmaker said this while visiting the spot on Tuesday.

He also said Nusrat Zahan Hira, student of Sikder Medical College in the city, Fatema-Tuz-Zohra, student of Rifles Public College and Zannatun Naim, MBA student of a Chinese university, were his cousin’s daughters.

Of them, Hira’s body has been recovered though other two bodies are missing till now.

Earlier, Pinak-6, with more than 200 people on board, sank within the 100 yards rang of Mawa Jetty in the river at 11:00am on Monday.

Of the passengers, about 40-45 managed to swim to the river bank while rest of the passengers remained missing.

BDST: 1752 HRS, AUG 05, 2014