At least eight people died and five others are missing when a picnic trawler capsized with 46 passengers on board after colliding with a bulkhead in a tributary of the Padma near Munshiganj’s Louhajang upazila on Saturday evening.
“The incident happened around 8:00pm in the Khidirpara union of the upazila,” Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy Assistant Director (media cell) Shahjahan Sikder confirmed the matter.
“Bodies of two men, four women, two children have been recovered so far,” he said.
BIWTA Deputy Director Obaidul Karim Khan said the search and rescue team is trying to rescue the capsized trawler.
Meanwhile, a team from the Bangladesh Coast Gurad, a unit of Louhajanj Fire Station and Dhaka's diving unit of the fire service are working to rescue the rest of the missing passengers.
“At least five people, including two children and three women, are still missing,” said Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Abu jafar Ripon.
The trawler carrying picnic-goers was returning from Khidirpara union in Sirajdikhan upazila to the Padma Bridge area.
“The district administration has formed a five-member inquiry to identify the cause of the accident,” the DC said adding that the bulkhead – involved in the incident – has been seized.
