6 drown as trawler sinks in Meghna

Six people including four children drowned and 20 went missing as a trawler carrying 50 passengers capsized in Meghna river in Monpura upazila of Bhola this morning.

The dead were identified as Ayesha Khatun, 65, Jesmin, 22, Rupa, 3, Tanju, 3, Tahmina, 3, and Mishu, 2. All were residents of different villages in Monpura upazila.

The Ramnewaj-bound trawler coming from Kalatoli sank near Dhal Char around 11:30am during a storm, said Md Hanif Sikder, officer-in-charge of Monpura Police Station.

Later, the bodies of six people were found from the river while 20 others remain missing.

The other passengers of the trawler were rescued by local fishermen.

The bodies were sent to Monpura Upazila Health Complex for autopsy.

The death toll in the capsize may increase, the OC said. Heavy current in the river is hampering the rescue operation, he added.

Md Selim Reza, deputy commissioner of Bhola said with the help of police and locals, they tried their best to conduct the rescue operation.