11 missing in Shitalakkhya trawler capsize

A trawler with 200 passengers sank on Sunday in the river Shitalakkhya, while 11 persons have gone missing. The rescue operation would be conducted till 9 AM today (Tuesday), police sources said.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authoriy (BIWTA) and Fire Service divers had started rescue operation at around 11.30 PM on Sunday night. Rescuers were yet to recover any bodies from the sunken boat, officials said.
Narayanganj Sadar police chief Akhter Hossain said, ‘The trawler carrying around 200 people including women and children was going to Bandar School Dock from Tanbazar’s Boat Dock at around 10.45 PM. A south-bound empty cargo trawler rammed it in the mid-river causing severe damages which led to the trawler’s sinking, he said.
Most of the passengers were factory workers and shopkeepers of hosiery and garment products at Narayanganj town. They were returning home after the day’s work.
Hossain also said local people rushed to the scene hearing the distress calls of the passengers many of whom managed to swim to the shore to safety.
Three of the passengers who reached the shore were identified. They are : Nilufa, 35, a factory worker, her daughter and handloom worker Tanzila, 20, and Sajib, 17.
Nilufa’s two legs were broken and she was sent to Dhaka Orthopaedic Hospital. Tanzila and Sajib were admitted to Narayanganj General Hospital, officials said.
Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner A B M Aminullah Nur, BIWTA officer Saiful Islam, Magistrate Shamsuzzoha and Police Super Biswas Afzal Hossain rushed to the scene on receiving news. They supervised the rescue operation.
The BIWTA authorities said 11 persons have gone missing. They were Nur Hossain (40), Sumon (08), Rubel (19), Mukul (26), Swapon (35), Rahman(11), Jewel (12), Hasinur(11), Aslam(24), and Rani(22).

Courtesy of The New Nation