Staff Reporter :
Police and BGB members on Saturday recovered the bodies of six people who went missing after two boats capsized carrying around 40 passengers, including a bridegroom and bride, in the Padma River in Rajshahi on Friday night.
The victims were identified as Moni Khatun, 40, from Dangerhat in Poba upazila, Eklas Ali, 22, Ratan Ali, 30, Shamim Hossain, 48, and his daughter Roshmi, 7.
Earlier, at least 32 persons were rescued alive from the spot.
Mehdi Masud, Officer-in-Charge of river police confirmed the news to the media and said that the body of Eklas was recovered around 1pm while the bodies of Ratan, Shamim and Roshmi 4pm from the river.
But three women, including bride Sweety Khatun Purni, 20, daughter of Insar Ali from Char Khidirpur, still remain missing, said the OC.
Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, BGB members recovered the body of Moni Khatun from Yusufpur area in Charghat upazila.
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 recovered from the river on Friday night, said Lt Zia Uddin Mahmud, Commander of BGB-1.
The boats were carrying around 40 passengers who were returning home after attending a post-wedding reception at the groom’s house in Char Khidirpur, said a youth who managed to swim ashore.
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 gave Tk 20,000 to each family of the deceased.
