At least 37 people have died after a midnight fire swept through a launch on the Sugandha river in Jhalakathi.
The death toll is likely to rise as more passengers have been injured after the Barguna-bound MV Abhijan-10 caught fire.
Firefighters have recovered 37bodies so far from the charred launch, according to the Fire Service.
As many as 72 people have been admitted to hospital, according to the Fire Service control room.
Many passengers jumped into the river in a desperate bid to save their lives as the fire raged for about three hours. Survivors say the launch was packed with passengers.
The fire started around 3 am on Friday, forcing the vessel to drop anchor on the banks of the river in the Diakul area of Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila.
Informed of the matter, Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene and began a rescue operation, while onlookers crowded the river bank.
Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan, deputy director of the Barishal Fire Service who led the response, said they suspect the fire may have originated from the launch's engine room.
Fifteen units of firefighters subsequently tamed the blaze around 5:20 am, with the assistance of the Coast Guard, police and local volunteers.
A probe will be launched to determine the cause of the fire and the amount of the resulting damage.
