The death toll from Sunday’s boat capsize in the Karatoa River in Boda upazila of Panchagarh has risen to 68 with the recovery of 18 more bodies till yesterday afternoon.
At least 20 passengers were still missing, according to the help centre of the district administration.
The bodies were recovered from Debiganj and Boda upazilas in Panchagarh, and from the Atrai River in the Birganj area of Dinajpur on the third day of rescue operations, according to Boda upazila UNO Md Soleman Ali.
The victims include 30 women, 20 children and 17 men.
So far 55 bodies have been identified.
Among the 64 victims, those identified included Hashem Ali, 70, Shyamoli Rani, 14, Laxmi Rami, 25, Amal Chandra, 35, Shova Rani, 27, Dipangkarkar, 3, Priyanta, 2.5, Rupali alias Khuki Rani, 25, Promila Rani, 55, Dhonbala,60, Sunati Rani, 60, Bilash Chandra, 45, Shyamoli Rani alias Shimuli, 35, Ushoshi, 8, Tonusri, 5, Sreyashi, Priyanti, 8, Saneka Rani, 60, Dipshikha Rani, 10, Subrata, 2, Jagadish, 35, Jyoti Mimroy, 15, Genda Rani, Konika Rani, Sumitra Rani, Aduri, 50, Pushpa Rani, Protima Rani, 50, Surjanath Barman, 12, Harikeshar Barman, 45, Nikhil Chandra, 60, Sushil Chandra 65, Juthi Rani, 1, Rajmohan Odhikari, 65, Rupali Rani, 38, Pradip Roy, 30, Parul Rani, 32, Protima Rani, 39, and Dola Rani, 5.
The trawler, carrying between 70 and 80 passengers, including women and children, capsized in the middle of the river while heading towards Badheshwar Temple on the occasion of Mahalaya at around 2:30pm on Sunday.
Some of the passengers managed to swim to safety.
The trawler was carrying double its maximum capacity of passengers, according to the district administration.
