The bodies of a father and his son, who had gone missing after a boat capsized in the Padma River in Rajshahi, were recovered two days after the accident, police said on Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Kawsar Ali, 60, the boatman, and his son Ziarul Haque, residents of Shyampur Shantinagar under Katakhali Police Station in Rajshahi.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Rajshahi Region River Police Mohammad Billal Hossain confirmed the recoveries.
According to police and Fire Service officials, divers from the Fire Service and River Police had been conducting a joint search operation since Tuesday's capsize. However, strong currents in the Padma River carried the bodies far from the accident site.
Kawsar Ali's body was recovered at around 8:00 am on Thursday after locals spotted it floating in the Padma River near Pakshi Bridge in Banglabazar, Kushtia, and alerted police.
Later, at around 1:00 pm, River Police recovered the body of his son Ziarul Haque from the Padma River near Satbaria Char in Rajshahi's Paba upazila. The bodies were subsequently handed over to their family members, police said.
The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when an engine-powered boat carrying eight passengers and a consignment of jhau (tamarisk) trees was travelling from Char Majardia to Lalon Shah Muktamancha. The vessel was overwhelmed by strong waves in the middle of the Padma River, lost control and capsized.
Local residents rescued six passengers alive shortly after the capsize, while boatman Kawsar Ali and his son, Ziarul Haque, remained missing. A joint search operation by Fire Service divers and River Police was launched immediately and ended with the recovery of their bodies on Thursday.
