8 killed in Bhola trawler capsize
20 remain missing
Our Correspondent, Bhola
At least eight bodies were found and 20 people went missing after a trawler overcrowded with passengers capsized in the Meghna River in Monpura upazila of Bhola yesterday noon.
According to police and Coast Guard sources, said the trawler of one Noium Majhi left Kalatolir Char for Monpura upazila headquarters with about 50 passengers around 11am.
However, the trawler was caught in a norwester mid river around noon and capsized. Some of the passengers managed to swim ashore.
The local people started immediate rescue and recovered some children and women, and sent them to Monpura Upazila Health Complex in critical condition.
Of them, doctors declared six-- Amena, 56, Rupa, 3, Tahmina, 3, Tanzina, 2, Jesmin, 22, and Roni, 2-- dead on arrival.
However, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Earshad Ali Khan confirmed eight deaths. The identities of the remaining two could not be ascertained.
When contacted, Lt Khalid, commander of Coast Guard Bhola zone, said a joint rescue team of police and Coast Guard rushed to the spot to run a salvage operation.
Bhola Deputy Commissioner Selim Reza said the rescue operation will continue until they find the missing people.
