Padma Boats Capsize Death Toll Climbs to 6

Saturday, police and BGB leaders rescued the bodies of five people who had gone missing after two boats capsized on Friday in the Padma River, bringing the death toll from the accidents to six.

The deceased were named at Poba Upazila as Moni Khatun, 40, of Dangerhat and Eklas Ali, 22, Ratan Ali, 30, Shamim Hossain, 48, and his daughter Roshmi, 7.

Mehdi Masud, river police officer, said Eklas ' body was retrieved about 1 pm when Ratan, Shamim and Roshmi's bodies were retrieved from the river around 4 pm to 4:30 pm.

BGB-1 commander Lt Zia Uddin Mahmud said leaders of the BGB rescued the

body of Moni Khatun from Yusufpur area in Charghat Upazila in the morning.

Nine people, including a bride, went missing after two boats sank in the Padma River at Char Khidirpur on Friday evening due to heavy current.

After the incident, the body of a minor child was retrieved from the river on Friday.

Three women, including bride Sweety Khatun Purni, 20, daughter of Insar Ali of Char Khidirpur, still remain missing, said the OC

The other missing people are Purni’s aunt Akhi Khatun and cousin Rukaiya Khatun.

The boats held more than 35 passengers who were returning home after attending a post-wedding reception at Char Khidirpur's groom's residence, a young man who managed to swim ashore said.

Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Md Hamidul Haque said a team of divers from Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) joined the rescue operation in the morning along with fire service team, BGB, and police.

He also said a five-member committee, led by additional district magistrate Abu Aslam, has been formed to investigate the incident.

The district administration provided Tk 20,000 to each family of the deceased.

Source: UNB