Authorities have formed two separate probe committees to investigate the Sadarghat launch terminal accident that left one person dead, one critically injured and at least two others missing.

State Minister for Shipping Rajib Ahsan said that route permits of the two launches involved in the incident had been cancelled and legal action would be taken against those found responsible, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

The minister visited the Sadarghat terminal on Wednesday night following the accident and assured compensation for the victims’ families.

He said the probe committees had been asked to submit their reports within three working days.

One committee will be led by Additional Secretary of the shipping ministry Abu Islam, while the other will be headed by Saiful Islam, director (administration) of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority.

The accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when two launches collided and rammed into a group of passengers waiting to board a vessel from a small boat near the Sadarghat launch terminal.

The deceased was identified as Md Sohel Fakir, 22, son of Miraj Fakir from Char Khagkata village in Mehendiganj upazila of Barishal.

Among the missing is Miraj Hossain, 40, Sohel’s father-in-law, while the identity of another missing person could not be confirmed.

Preliminary reports suggest that the accident occurred while passengers were boarding a launch using a trawler, when another vessel, MV Zaker-3, struck it from behind, triggering the fatal incident.