Boat capsize in Padma: 2 more bodies found

Two more bodies have been recovered following capsize of two boats carrying a bridal party in Rajshahi's Sreerampur last evening.

The dead are Moni Begum (48) and Eklas alias Ratan, Paba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadat Hossain told The Daily Star.

Moni Begum is the grandmother of a five-year-old girl Morium who died in the incident while Eklas is a cousin of the bride.

Around 7:00pm yesterday, two among three engine boats carrying a newly married couple and their relatives, sank in the Padma river, shortly after starting for Sreerampur ghat from Char Khanpur under Paba upazila.

Family members and relatives were seen crying in Sreerampur ghat today as six people still remain missing since two engine boats carrying a bridal party sank in the Padma river on Friday, on March 6, 2020. Photo: Star

Divers of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) recovered Moni Begum's body from Charghat area this morning while Eklas' body was found in Sreerampur around 1:30pm, said the UNO.

A total of 41 passengers, including the couple -- Sweety Akhter Purnima (18) and Asaduzzaman Rumon (22) -- were on the boats that capsized.

Soon after the capsize, Border Guard Bangladesh members rescued five people while 27 people, including Asaduzzaman, managed to swim ashore with help of boatmen and locals. Six, including the bride, remain missing.

Divers of navy, BIWTA, and Rajshahi Fire Service and Civil Defence were on with a rescue operation, said Sadat.

Meanwhile, the district administration had formed a five-member committee to probe the incident. Additional District Magistrate Abu Aslam was heading the team, he added.

Last evening, one boat, which was carrying the bride and the groom, started to sink due to sudden strong wind. The other boat sank due to overloading as passengers from the sinking boat jumped on it, locals said quoting the survivors.

Asaduzzaman was going to his in-law's house after his wedding reception at his home in Char Khanpur.