MUNSHIGANJ: Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) handed over the owner of the launch, Pinak-6, to police on Wednesday evening. 

The launch owner Abu Bakar Siddique Kalu, hailed from Dani Medini Mandal village near Mawa Ghat, has been handed over to Lauhajang Police Station around 6:45pm.

Officer-in-Charge M Tofazzal Hossain of Lauhajang Police Station confirmed the matter to banglanews.

The owner of Pinak-6 is also deputy-chairman of Dani Medini Mandal area BNP unit.

Earlier, Abu Bakar was arrested from an apartment in Agrabad Housing Society of the Chittagong city around 3:30am on Wednesday.

After detention, he is being brought to RAB Headquarters in Mintoo road of the capital, he added. 

On July 4, the launch, Pinak-6, was carrying more than 250 passengers capsized near Mawa Ghat in Lohaganj upazila of Munshiganj district.

Till August 12, the death toll rose to 48, in which 28 bodies were handed over to their family and unidentified 17 were buried while unidentified one is yet to burry.

BIWTA made accused six people, including the owner of the passenger ferry, its sureng and helmsman with causing death by negligence after the vessel sank.

** Removal of 8 BIWTA officials sought 

BDST: 2145 HRS, AUG 13, 2104