The shipping court in Dhaka issued arrest warrant against eight people including the owner of MV Abhijan following the deadly fire that broke out in the launch early Friday.
Besides, the fitness certificate, registration and certificate of masters and drivers have also been stayed.
Judge Jaynab Begum of a BIWTA court issued the arrest warrant on Sunday after the Shipping department filed a case over the incident in Sugandha river of Jhalokathi.
Chief Inspector Shafiqur Rahman of the department filed the case, said state prosecuting officer Bellal Hossain.
The Barguna-bound Abhijan-10 caught fire while at the wee hours on 24 December killing 42 people so far. Many passengers sustained burn injury.