Padma speedboat disaster: Police arrest pilot Shah Alam

Police have arrested Shah Alam Mia, the prime suspect in the case filed over the fatal speedboat crash on the Padma River that killed 26 people earlier this month.

Alam, who was the speedboat's pilot during the time of the accident, was among five people who were rescued alive after the accident and sent to the hospital. 

He was being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in police custody.

“After Shah Alam was released from hospital on Sunday, marine police handed over his custody to Shibchar police station. He will be produced before the court on Monday,” Kathalbari Port marine police outpost Inspector Abdur Razzaak said while confirming the matter to the media.

On May 3, as many as 26 people lost their lives when a Banglabazar-bound speedboat from Shimulia ferry terminal rammed into a sand-laden bulk carrier near the Kathalbari ferry terminal.

Later that night, Kanthalbari river police unit filed a case against four people, including Alam, speedboat owners Chandu Molla and Rezaul, and the lessee of the speedboat wharf Shah Alam Khan with Shibchar police station.