At least 15 missing as trawler capsized in Narayanganj

Some 15 people went missing after a trawler capsized in the Dhaleshwari river in Narayanganj Sadar upazila on Wednesday.

Witnesses and fire service said the trawler with more than 100 passengers was coming from Dharamganj. Due to low visibility in dense fog, it collided with a Dhaka-bound launch in the middle of the river around 8.30am.

Although many of the passengers managed to swim ashore or got to the river banks through other vessels, at least 15 of them went missing.

Rashed Bin Khaled, duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, said, "Five divers from the local fire service have been conducting rescue operations since the accident."

An witness Al Amin said, “The trawler was not clearly visible due to dense fog. After the trawler capsized, passengers from other vessels rescued the passengers of the trawler and took them to hospital. The trawler was carrying more than 100 passengers. Most of them are garment workers.”

Confirming the matter, Narayanganj Sadar upazila executive officer (UNO), Md Rifat Ferdous told Prothom Alo, “The launch collided with the trawler due to dense fog on the river. Some 15 people are still missing. The rescue operation is underway. We are trying to find the sunken trawler.