Two assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) of Kumarkhali police station in Kushtia went missing after a police boat was attacked and sunk by a group of miscreants in the Padma River early Monday.
The officers were conducting an operation to apprehend suspects when the incident occurred.
Kumarkhali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazrul Islam confirmed the incident to Dhaka Tribune.
The attack took place around 4am in the Kuthibari Ghat area of Shilaidah Union.
Senior officials, including Kushtia Superintendent of Police (SP) Mizanur Rahman, are present at the scene overseeing the search efforts.
The missing officers are identified as ASI Sadrul Hasan, 44, and ASI Mukul Hossain, 37, both from Kumarkhali police station.
Another officer, Sanwar Hossain, and two local union parishad members, Anwar Hossain and Sanwar Hossain, were also injured in the incident. The UP members’ mobile phones were unreachable following the attack.
OC Nazrul Islam explained: "Six policemen were crossing the Padma River in a boat to arrest a suspect. When they reached the river’s midpoint, they were ambushed by miscreants, who attacked and sank the boat, injuring one sub-inspector. Although most officers managed to swim ashore, two ASIs remain missing."
According to local witnesses, UP members Sanwar and Anwar accompanied the six police officers to the Padma River around 4am. Fishermen, who were reportedly casting nets illegally, attacked as the police approached.
ASIs Sadrul Hasan and Mukul Hossain reportedly jumped into the river during the altercation and have been missing since.
Kumarkhali Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Mahmadul Hasan noted there was no authorized fishing operation on the river Sunday night and expressed uncertainty about the police's purpose in the area.
Kumarkhali Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Officer SM Firoz Ahmed said that a fire service unit arrived at the Shilaidah Kheyaghat area around 9am Monday, awaiting a diving team from Khulna.
As of noon, the diving team was en route, with the search and rescue operation expected to begin upon their arrival.
Kushtia Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime, Operations, and Media) Palash Kanti Nath confirmed: “Two ASIs from Kumarkhali police station remain missing after the incident in the Padma. Police search teams are scouring the river with boats to locate and rescue the officers.”
