Two die in Padma river boat capsize

A teenager and a child died as a boat carrying 40 passengers sank in a tributary of Padma River near Hasail in Tongibari upazila of the district after a collision with a bulkhead on Saturday.

The deceased were Sifa Akhter, 15, daughter of Nazrul Bepari of Mandra village and Fahija Akhter, 6, daughter of Faruk Hossain of Fatullah in Narayanganj.

The image shows people gathering at a ghat after a boat carrying 40 passengers sank in a tributary of Padma River near Hasail in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj after a collision with a bulkhead on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Photo: BSS

Locals said the Hasail Bazar-bound Kheya boat capsized in the river after hitting the bulkhead in the dark while it was coming from Miah Bari ghat of Hasail char.

After visiting the spot, Tongibari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Aslam Hossain said many passengers swam ashore after the incident.

It is yet to be ascertained whether anyone is still missing, he said, adding that searching is going on.