At least 10 people, including five children, have drowned after a trawler capsized in the Gumai river in Netrakona.
The accident took place at Kalmakanda upazila around 10:30am on Wednesday.
Kalmakanda police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Rahman confirmed the matter.
The deceased are Tumpa Akhter, 4, daughter of Md Habib, Zahid Miya, 2, son of Md Habib, Mojahidul Islam, 3, son of Jubayel Islam, Anik Ahmed Jony, 5, son of Md Alamgir, Rakibul Hasan, 2, son of Ahmed Wahab, Sultana Begum, 40, Hamida Akhter, 50, Majeda Begum, 50, Lucky Akhter, 30, and Lutfur Nahar, 25.
All ten of the deceased belonged to Inatnagar village under the jurisdiction of Moddhonagar police station of Sunamganj.
Police and locals recovered the bodies of the deceased from the river.
Locals and police said the trawler departed from Sunamganj’s Dharmapasha upazila in the morning with approximately 35 passengers for Netrkona’s Kalmakanda upazila.
Two bulkhead boats were going in the same direction, parallel to the trawler, to bring back sand. At one point, one of the boats hit the trawler causing the accident.
Some of the passengers swam to safety, however the rest were swept away by the current. At least 12 passengers are still missing.
Meanwhile, three people have been rescued by locals.
A team of divers from Kalmakanda Fire Service are conducting a search operation in the river.
Moddhonagar Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Probir Bijoy Talukdar said: “The river is very narrow and deep where the launch capsized. Strong currents are hindering rescue operations.”
There’s a small channel of Holholia Haor beside the river. Rescue teams suspect that more bodies may wash up there, he said.
“Large bulkhead boats do not ply on this river. If they are allowed to use this river, more accidents like this will take place,” he added.
Moddonagar police station OC Md Abdullah Al Mamun said 10 bodies were recovered and further rescue operations are being carried out. The recovered bodies will be handed over to relatives.”
Police, locals, and Netrakona district administration are helping in the rescue operations.
On behalf of the prime minister, Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Abdul Ahad compensated the affected families with Tk20,000 each.