The launch, Prince of Patuakhali, carrying more than 200 passengers sank in the river at Char Kajal, about 30 kilometres off Galachipa upazila headquarters, at 11:00am.

Ten bodies were recovered until yesterday evening, 11 of them were identified as Asma, 2, Dilara, 30, Habib, 3, Joyful, 50, Altaf, 30, Zihad, 1, Tamanna, 6, Juthi, 7, Jahanara, 50, Runu Begum, 30, and Johora, 55.

About 100 passengers swam ashore. The survivors said the single-decker launch capsized due to overcrowding and strong waves in the river.

Our correspondent from Patuakhali quoting Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources said the launch has the capacity of carrying only 80 passengers.

"The capacity of the launch is 80. The overload and strong currents in the river might have caused the accident," said one BIWTA official.

Villagers rushed to the spot after the launch capsized and started rescue operation. Family members and relatives of the passengers also gathered on the bank of the river.

The launch had sailed from Patuakhali in the morning for Char Montaj.

Mejbah Uddin, upazila nirbahi officer of Galachipa, told The Daily Star over phone from the spot that they have asked for a rescue vessel.

Sultan Ahmed, assistant director of BIWTA, told UNB that salvage vessel Hamza would start rescue operation of the sunken launch.

BDNEWS in Dhaka quoting BIWTA says salvage ship Hamza left Barisal for the accident spot at 3:30pm yesterday.

In the last one decade, over 4,000 people died in major launch accidents in the country. The government however put the number at about 3,000.

PM SHOCKED
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has expressed shock at the loss of lives in yesterday's launch accident in Patuakhali.

In a condolence message, she prayed for salvation of the departed souls and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families of the victims.