The shipping ministry reconstituted a committee today to look into the death of schoolboy Titash Ghosh, who died in an ambulance after a ferry was reportedly delayed to accommodate a VIP in Madaripur.

Additional Secretary Sanjay Kumar Banik is convener of the committee. Other members are -- Joint Secretary Shahnewaz Dilruba Khan and Deputy Secretary SM Shah Habibur Rahman Hakim.

A two-member body was formed on July 29. In a circular on Wednesday, the ministry said the reconstituted committee is effective from the previous date.

The committee has been asked to submit a preliminary report within seven working days.

Several newspapers and a TV ran reports on the death of a sixth grader, drawing the ministry's attention.

According to reports, the boy, who was in an ambulance on a ferry on Sunday, died as the authorities allegedly delayed the vessel's departure from Kathalbari jetty for Joint Secretary Abdus Sabur Mondal.