Two workers went missing and eight others were injured when a boat capsized due to over load while placing blocks to prevent riverbank erosion on the bank of the Teesta River in Sundarganj Upazila, Gaibandha.
The incident occurred around 2:45pm on Saturday near Babur Bazar in the Sreepur Union of Sundarganj Upazila.
The missing workers are Atuar Hossain, 40 and Raju Mia, 45.
According to police and locals, the Water Development Board is implementing a project to place blocks. As part of the project, 28 workers were working on a boat carrying 500 blocks to be placed in the river. Due to the over load, the boat lost balance and capsized.
Among the workers who made it to shore, eight were injured and have been admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital and Gaibandha Modern Sadar Hospital for treatment.
Locals made immediate attempts to rescue the missing workers, but no trace of them had been found by 6pm.
Sundarganj Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahbub Alam said that a boat with 28 workers capsized while 26 workers managed to reach the shore, two are still missing. Fire service personnel are currently working to locate them.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Md Zahid Hasan Siddiqui, and Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tarekul Islam visited the scene.
UNO Tarekul Islam mentioned that the fire service is actively working to rescue the missing workers, and the Rangpur diving team has been notified.
Once the diving team arrives, they will continue the search operation for the missing workers. Financial assistance will be provided to the families of the missing workers, he added.