5 go missing as trawler hits launch

Five people went missing after a trawler hit an anchored launch on the river Shitalakkhya in Narayanganj on Sunday night.

Divers of Fire Service and Civil Defence were conducting a rescue operation yesterday.

The missing -- Osman Gani, 40, Johny, 22, Sujan, 19, Emon, 22, and Deen Islam, 35 -- are from Madanganj Shantinagar of Bandar upazila.

Arifur Rahman, station officer at Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, said the trawler with 80-100 passengers was going to Madanganj Kheya Ghat from the city's Central Kheya Ghat. When the vessel took a turn, it hit the launch anchored at the central berthing point, he said. Some passengers of the trawler fell into the river and swam ashore.