Zia’s sons sued for boat capsize that killed 84

DHAKA - The Bangladesh government has sued opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s two sons and their business partner who were owners of the boat that capsized last week killing 84 people.

They have been charged with operating the boat overloaded with passengers leading to its sinking in Tentulia river in Bhola in southern Bangladesh.

Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko are currently undergoing medical treatment abroad. Giasuddin Al Mamun of Messrs Rahman Shippers Bangladesh Ltd. is their business associate.

The company’s managing director Tarique Rahman and its director Arafat Rahman Koko are sons of former prime minister Khaleda Zia whose Bangladesh Nationalist Party lost the election last year.

Tarique, besides being a businessman, was also a senior BNP leader, while Koko is a businessman.

The company owns MV Coco-4 that sank in Tentulia near Nazirpur launch terminal in Lalmohon of Bhola Nov 27 with around 2,000 passengers on board, The Daily Star reported.

Meanwhile, six more bodies were recovered from the sunken vessel Wednesday raising the accident’s death toll to 84.

Shipping department inspector for Sadarghat launch terminal, Shafique Aiyub, filed the case with the Marine Court Nov 30 implicating 13 others, said Chief Engineer and Surveyor of the Shipping Department A.K.M. Fakhrul Islam.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan announced the filing of the case.

The minister said the government will also punish its own officials whose culpability in the tragic event will be found.