The bodies of 21 people have been recovered after a passenger boat capsized when it was hit by a sand-laden trawler at Laiska Beel in Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila. Many are still missing. However, the rescue operation is being delayed as the fire service does not have its own diving team in the district.
The incident took place around 5:30 pm on Friday (August 27) when a passenger trawler sank in Laiska Beel of the upazila. Upon receiving the news, the locals, police and fire service personnel reached the spot and started the rescue operation.
Deputy Assistant Director of Brahmanbaria Fire Service Taufiqul Islam Bhuiyan has confirmed that there is no diver.
"Immediately after receiving the news of the sinking of the boat, we started the rescue operation," he said. As there is no diving team in Brahmanbaria, divers from Kishoreganj district will come to the spot and start the rescue operation. Asked how long it would take for the rescue operation to be completed, he said it would be known after the diving team from Kishoreganj reached the spot and start the rescue operation.
Incidentally, the trawler with more than 100 passengers left Champaknagar boat ghat in Vijayanagar at 4.30 pm on Friday for Anandabazar ghat in Sadar upazilla. On the way there was a collision with a sand laden trawler coming from the opposite direction in the Laiska Beel area. The passenger boat sank. At first the locals started the rescue work. Upon receiving the news, the police and fire service personnel went to the spot and started the rescue operation.
Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Hayat Ud Daula Khan and Superintendent of Police Anisur Rahman visited the spot.