Brahmanbaria trawler capsize death toll 21

People gather at the site of the trawler capsize in Brahmanbaria on Thursday Aug 27. UNB

Brahmanbaria, Aug 28 – Divers  recovered the body of a man from Laiska Canal in Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Friday midnight, raising the death toll from a trawler capsize in the canal to 21.

Fire services sources said they managed to recover the body around 12am.

On Friday evening at least 20  people drowned and many more went missing as a trawler sank after being hit by another sand-laden trawler in the Laiska Canal under Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Friday evening.

Although the identities of the deceased could not be known yet, sources said most of the victims were women and children.

Confirming the shocking incident, the officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station Md Imranul Islam told UNB that fire service drivers have been working relentlessly to rescue the victims.

A witness, identifying himself as Rizvi, said the trawler was carrying nearly 100 passengers.

Deputy Commissioner of the district Hayat Ud-Daula Khan and Superintendent of Police Md Anisur Rahman visited the spot.

“The local administration will provide Tk20,000 to families of each deceased.  The injured will get free treatment,” the DC said.

Bangladesh, a delta country crisscrossed by rivers, sees such tragic incidents at intervals. - UNB