At least five youths went missing as a boat of a picnic party capsized near China Ghat point in Jamuna river in Sirajganj Sadar upazila yesterday afternoon.

The missing are: Maruf Hasan, 26, Hasinur Rahman, 30, Mohammad Mizan, 28, Sharif Miah, 17, and Shahadat Hossain, 17. They are all residents of Baishkail Purbopara village under Gopalpur upazila of Tangail, our local correspondent reports quoting Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Gopalpur Police Station.

According to the OC, around 22 locals of Baishkail Purbopara village went near the West side of Bangabandhu Bridge on an engine-driven boat yesterday morning for a picnic party on the occasion of the Eid.    

After having lunch, all the 22 youths boarded the boat and as they reached the China Ghat point, it capsized due to heavy current in the river, the police official said.

Seventeen of them managed to swim ashore while five others remain missing, the OC said, adding that a team of divers of Fire Service and Civil Defenceare trying to find the missing youths.

Further details about the five missing youths could not be known till this afternoon, the OC told our correspondent.