Sand-laden cargo vessel sinks trawler in Bangladesh, leaving 3 dead

By Faisal Mahmud

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - At least three people died after a trawler carrying 21 passengers capsized in Megha river of Bangladesh late Friday, officials said. The fishing boat was struck by a large sand-laden cargo vessel, or bulkhead, in the Bhairab area of the river.

Officials from the diving unit of Fire Service & Civil Defense (FSCD) said six people on the trawler, including a family of four, were still missing. The rest swam ashore.

Azizul Haque, station officer of Bhairab Fire Service and Civil Defense office, told Anadolu that they started the rescue operation Saturday morning as weather was not suitable last night.

"A team of five divers began searching for the missing passengers from the capsized trawler at 8 a.m. (0200 GMT). They have been able to retrieve three bodies so far," he said.

Meanwhile, anxious scenes unfolded on the banks of the Meghna river as families awaited news of their loved ones missing after the accident.

Maria Bhuiyah, a survivor of the collision, stood amongst the crowd. While she managed to swim to safety, her uncle, his wife, and their two children remained unaccounted for.

"We were just out for a relaxing trip on the river," Maria recounted, her voice heavy with emotion. "Then, out of nowhere, a sand barge slammed into us, and the trawler went down so fast. All I could do was swim for shore."

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Inspector KM Moniruzzaman Chowdhury, in-charge of the Bhairab river police outpost, told Anadolu that two individuals are in custody for questioning, while bulkhead was also seized.

Highlighting safety concerns, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury compared bulkheads to the problematic three-wheeled vehicles (known for frequent accidents) on Bangladesh's roads. "These [bulkheads] need to be modernized," he told a media briefing.