The death toll from the launch disaster in the Meghna in the early hours of Friday remained unchanged till yesterday, officials said.

"No more body was recovered from the spot or nearby areas," Deputy Commissioner of Chandpur Rezaul Karim told The Daily Star over telephone last night. He however did not rule out the possibility of finding more bodies.

Sixty-four bodies were recovered when the ill-fated launch ML Rajhonsi was salvaged on Friday evening. Of these, 50 were identified and taken by relatives till Saturday.

Out of the 14 bodies kept at the Sadar Hospital morgue, eleven were identified and taken by relatives yesterday, he said.

It is still unclear how many people were on board the launch when it sank in the Meghna at Eklaspur, about 30 kms off Chandpur after it was hit by MV Jalkapot -2 amid thick fog at about 3:15 am on Friday. Survivors earlier claimed that it was carrying over 250 passengers.

MV Jalkapot-2 was seized when it reached Dhaka after the accident. It is now in police custody at the Sadar Ghat terminal.

Marine Court Magistrate Abdul Mannan Elias yesterday turned down a prayer by the owner of MV Jalkapot-2 for release of the vessel.

When contacted yesterday, Magistrate Elias said, "I have