Death toll in Padma boat capsize rises to six

Police and BGB members on Saturday recovered the bodies of five people who went missing after two boats capsized in the Padma river on Friday, raising the death toll from the incidents to six.

The boats were carrying a newly married couple and their relatives.

The deceased were Moni Khatun, 40, of Dangerhat in Poba upazila and Eklas Ali, 22, Ratan Ali, 30, Shamim Hossain, 48, and his daughter Roshmi, 7.

Mehdi Masud, officer-in-charge of river police, said the body of Eklas was retrieved around 1:00pm while the bodies of Ratan, Shamim and Roshmi 4:00pm to 4:30pm from the river.

Zia Uddin Mahmud, commander of BGB-1, said BGB members recovered the body of Moni Khatun from Yusufpur in Charghat upazila in the morning.

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 retrieved from the river on Friday.

Three women, including bride Sweety Khatun Purni, 20, daughter of Insar Ali of Char Khidirpur, still remain missing, said the OC.

The others missing people are Purni’s aunt Akhi Khatun and cousin Rukaiya Khatun.

The boats were carrying more than 35 passengers who were returning home after attending a post-wedding reception at the groom’s house at 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 provided Tk 20,000 to each family of the deceased.