Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered the body of a woman in the Bay of Bengal, near Chera dip area in St Martin's Island, today.

The identity of the woman could not be known immediately, reports our correspondent quoting Lt Commander Nayeem-ul-Haque of St Martin Coast Guard.

Nayeem said they recovered the body at 12pm from Chera dip area.

The Coast Guard official believed that the body might be one of those who remained missing, following a trawler capsize near St Martin's Island on December 11.

At least 17 people died as a trawler carrying 138 Rohingyas sank in the Bay of Bengal while trying to go to Malaysia illegally.

Seventy-two were rescued alive and 49 remain missing so far, said Coast Guard official Nayeem, adding that members of Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy are continuing their drive to rescue others.