Overcrowding and negligence are to blame for the capsizing of a boat, carrying 100 Junior School Certificate (JSC) exam candidates, in the Pagla river under Nabinagar upazila that left two students dead and 18 others injured on November 1.

The probe committee, formed to investigate the incident, said this in their report, which was made public yesterday.

The report said the boat, hired by the authorities of Birgaon High School and College, could usually carry around 40-50 persons but took more than 100 on board.

Also, there were 39 illegal fishing enclosures (commonly known as gher) in the river that hampered the boat's movement.

It also blamed acting principal of the institution, Nazir Hossain, for his carelessness to allow so many students board the boat in such conditions.

Brahmanbaria Additional District Magistrate Shahedul Islam, who headed the three-member probe body, disclosed the report to Deputy Commissioner Rezwanur Rahman on Thursday afternoon.

The report mentioned that the acting principal has not been performing his duties properly, said the DC.

When asked, the principal said he was not aware of the probe report. However, he reiterated his earlier statement that they had hired two boats for the students."... some of the guardians and many other students

SEE PAGE 4 COL 6 Overcrowding

FROM PAGE 5 boarded the boats despite our warnings.” He said he was accompanying other students in another boat.

Meanwhile, the report suggested taking actions against the owners of the fishing enclosures. It also suggested that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) should check fitness of the passenger boats.

When asked, the DC said the administration already prepared a list of the owners of the fishing enclosures and is taking actions against them.