Staff Reporter :
Two sand-laden trawlers carrying some 58 workers capsized in the river Padma at Kumarbhogh point in Lauhajang Upazila of Munshiganj district on Saturday afternoon.
“Some 26 sand workers swam ashore but the rest 32 went missing. We have launched rescue operation amid rough weather,” said Biplob Bijoy Talukder, Superintendent of Police of Munshiganj district to The New Nation on Saturday.
He added that the accident took place at about 3pm due to strong current in the river triggered by torrential monsoon rain. Biplob Bijoy said, police and divers from Fire Brigade have been carrying rescue operation despite rough weather and strong currents in the river. “The two sand-laden trawlers carrying workers from Bhaggyakul of Munshiganj district were going to Narayanganj,” he said.
Meanwhile, launch, ferry and speedboat services on the Doulatdia-Manikganj-Paturia, and the Shimulia-Kwrakandi route have been suspended due to bad weather.
Shimulia River Port’s Traffic Inspector Tofazzal Hossain said that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Saturday took decision of suspending ferry and other water vessels service in order to avoid accident in view of the rough weather and strong current in the river.
“Services will resume once the situation becomes normal,” he said.
