Rescue operation continues for trawler capsize

Search for 20 missing workers and sunken trawler continues on Thursday. Photo: UNB
Search for 20 missing workers and sunken trawler continues on Thursday. Photo: UNB

The search for the 20 workers, who went missing after a soil-laden trawler capsized in the Meghna river, and the sunken trawler resumed on Friday for the 3rd day, reports UNB.

Members of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Fire Service, River Police and Bangladesh Coast Guard are trying to locate the trawler with the help of side-scan sonar system.

The trawler, carrying 34 workers from Cumilla, sank in the river at Charjhapta in Sadar upazila around 3am on Tuesday after it collided with an oil-laden tanker while heading towards Fatulla in Narayanganj.

Although 14 workers managed to swim ashore, the rest went missing. All the workers hail from Pabna and Sirajganj districts.

Although the rescue teams found the image of a trawler-like metal object in the riverbed in the solar, it was not sure whether it was the sunken trawler, said BIWTA chairman commodore Mozammel Haque from the spot.

Meanwhile, the air of the riverbank became heavier with the wails of the relatives of the missing workers who were desperately looking for their loved ones.

The relatives thronged the riverbank for news on the fate of the trawler capsize victims.

A nine-member probe body headed by additional district magistrate Mobassherul Islam was formed to investigate the capsize incident.