A trawler carrying 39 passengers capsized in the Meghna River near Hatia in Noakhali.
The incident occurred around 3:45pm on Saturday, while the vessel was en route from Bhashan Char to Karim Bazar.
While 22 passengers were rescued with the help of local fishermen, Coast Guard, and Marine Police, 17 remain missing.
Among the missing are three police personnel stationed at the Bhashan Char police station.
According to sources, the trawler departed from Bhashan Char in Hatia at 2pm, bound for the Karim Bazar ghat in Horoni union.
The vessel sank about one kilometre from Karim Bazar after being caught in rough weather and high waves in the Meghna.
The trawler was carrying ill Rohingya patients, three police personnel, and NGO representatives. Of the 39 onboard, 22 have been rescued so far.
The missing police personnel have been identified as Farhad, Mostafiz, and Saiful Islam.
Superintendent of Police in Noakhali, Md Abdullah-Al-Farooq, confirmed the incident and the number of missing.
He said: “Upon receiving the news, the Coast Guard, Marine Police, and local fishermen promptly launched a rescue operation and have so far rescued 22 people. Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining individuals.”
