4 dead in Munshiganj trawler capsize

The death toll of the trawler capsize in Meghna river in Munshiganj's Gozaria upazila rose to four with the surfacing of another body this afternoon.

          - Tk 20,000 compensation for each family

          - Fifth body found, police unsure if it is a victim

          - Search and rescue on

Four people were confirmed dead and 14 others missing in a trawler capsize in the Meghna river flowing through Munshiganj's Gozaria upazila following a collision with another vessel.

Three bodies, three-year-old Munia, and of two other youths were found floating on the water in Mollakandi area early today. Another youth, in his mid-twenties, was found flattened between the two vessels after the incident last night.

The families of the deceased will be given Tk 20,000 each as compensation, informed Md Saiful Hasan Badol, the deputy commissioner of Munshiganj.

A Dhaka bound bulkhead vessel rammed into the Chandpur bound trawler carrying about 75 passengers around 8:00pm yesterday, our Munshiganj correspondent reports quoting ABM Masud Hossain, additional superintendent (ASP) of Gazipur police.

Unable to detach the vessel after the collision, the driver and staff of the bulkhead fled the scene, said Habibur Rahman, a sub-inspector of Gozaria Police Station. 

Munshiganj police Superintendent Biplob Bijoy Talukder confirmed of four deaths relating to the incident. Police, firefighters and volunteers were pursuing search and rescue.

Deputy Commissioner Saiful Hasan Badol said a fifth body was found, but SP Biplob Bijoy Talukder said he was uncertain if the body was related to this trawler capsize.

Most of them were rescued and some managed to swim ashore to get treatment in various areas.

A survivor, Piyash hailing from Shiddhirganj, Narayanganj, said the trawler left from Baushia Launch terminal bridge at 7:30pm. "The incident happened during a storm."

4 MISSING IN NARAYANGANJ TRAWLER CAPSIZE

Four people went missing after a trawler carrying passengers capsized in Buriganga river in Fatullah upazila of Narayanganj this afternoon.

Search and rescue operation is underway, Md Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station, told The Daily Star.