Passenger Launch in Barishal Engulfed in Fire

A passenger launch docked at the Patarhat terminal in Mehendiganj upazila, Barishal, was severely damaged in a fire early Friday morning. The blaze, which broke out around 3 a.m., did not result in any casualties, as no passengers were aboard at the time, according to Monir Hossain, a member of the launch's crew. He noted that the fire seemed to ignite suddenly within the vessel, producing thick smoke.

Ruhul Amin, the launch owner, confirmed that the boat was scheduled for a 9 a.m. departure from Patarhat to Barishal. He speculated that the fire could have been sparked by a mosquito coil, which may have been left burning inside the cabin.

Authorities were alerted to the fire, and a team from Mehendiganj police station, led by Officer-in-Charge Jahangir Hossain, visited the scene. However, no formal complaints had been filed by the time of the visit, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.