At least 20 people were killed and 20 others missing as three boats capsized in separate incidents in Sirajganj, Kushtia and Munshiganj in last two days.
In Sirajganj, nine bodies were recovered and 10 others were still missing as a boat capsized in the Jamuna river near Chouhali yesterday.
Of the victims five were identified – Rashida Khatun, 16, daughter of Abdul Halim from Khas-Pukuria village, Aduri Begum, 20, daughter of Amzad Hossain from Khas-Kaulia village, Akter Hossain, 42, his wife Dilu Begum and Noyon Tara, 30, wife of Saiful Islam.
Tangail Deputy Commissioner Md Mahbub Hossain, Sirajganj Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Protap Chandra Biswas and Chouhali Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdullah visited the spot immediately after the incident and joined the rescue work.
Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Md Billal Hossain declared a compensation of Tk10,000 to each of the victim family.
Chouhali police station Officer-in-Charge Samsul Haque said an engine-run trawler carrying over 100 passenger sank as it hit a submerged damaged bridge on its way to Selimabad.
The OC also said though most of the passengers swam ashore 10 people were still missing.
The UNO said divers from the capital joined the rescue operation, adding that the injured were given primary treatment at Chouhali Upazila Health Complex.
In Kushtia, another nine people were killed and three others still missing as a boat capsized in the Padma river near Boiragir Char area in Doulatpur upazila on Wednesday.
Three bodies – Kalu Sheikh, 18, Shikha, 18, and Shahajul, 28, – were recovered last morning in Pathorghata area and five others – Shipon, 28, in Koldiyar area, Imran, 14, in Boiragir Char, and Bithi, 14, Divar, 20, and an unidentified person in Rankhariya area – were recovered later.
On Wednesday night, police also recovered the floating body of Mala Akhter Poli in Bheramara.
Bheramara police station Officer-in-Charge Mamun Khan said the bodies were recovered after locals informed the police. The boat carrying 19 passengers capsized on Wednesday on its way to a char area from Boiragir Char in the Padma river.
Elsewhere in Munshiganj, at least two people were killed and two others were injured as a boat capsized yesterday afternoon at Marialay village near BT college in Tongibari.
The deceased are Tania Akter, 18, daughter of Latif Mia, and Afsana Akter, 14, daughter of Delowar Hossen from Nitaiganj of Narayanganj.
Injured Jubayer, 7, and Sami, 14, of Barail village of Tongibari were admitted to Tongbari Health Complex. On-duty doctors said they were out of dangers.
Tongibari Police Station on-duty officer ASI Mosaraf Hossen said six members of a family went on a boat trip in the afternoon.
When the small boat drowned, two of them managed to swim ashore but four of them drowned. Locals rescued them and took them to the hospital where on-duty doctors declared Tania and Afsana dead, the ASI added.