Rescuers have found 21 bodies in the passenger launch that capsized in the river Shitalakkhya on Sunday evening.
Five bodies were found in the river on the night immediately after the incident while one more body came afloat on Monday, taking the death toll from the incident to 27.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority director Rafiqul Islam confirmed the death toll to The Business Post.
Rafiqul said there remained no other dead body inside the launch named Sabit Al Hasan, which was taken to the shore by the rescuers on Monday. But eight people still remained missing, he said.
The launch carrying about 50 passengers sank around 6:00 pm Sunday near the under-construction third Shitalakkhya Bridge under Narayanganj district.
Quoting BIWTA, Narayanganj deputy commissioner Mustain Billah told The Business Post that the launch was carrying at least 46 passengers.
It was travelling to Munshiganj district from Narayanganj, he said.
Primary investigation showed that the launch was hit by a lighter cargo before it sank off, he said.
The incident happened at a time when many people were rushing to villages ahead of a one-week lockdown.
The cabinet division on Sunday formally announced a one-week lockdown from Monday to contain a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.
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