Boat capsize toll now 10

Bodies of five more people who drowned in a boat accident in the Jamuna on Tuesday were recovered yesterday, taking the death toll to 10.

Nine people are still missing, according to police and the fire service.

The rescue operation was called off on Wednesday evening considering that the missing bodies might have been washed away due to the strong current, said Monjurul Alam, officer at Shahzadpur fire station in Sirajganj.

The boat was yet to be rescued, he added.

The accident took place around 2:00 pm near Shthalchar area in Sirajganj's Chowhali upazila as a boat overturned with around 80 people on board.

A total of 57 people swamashore while police and firefighters rescued five bodies on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police yesterday recovered five more bodies after they surfaced on the river banks in different areas in the upazila.

Rashidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Chowhali Police Station, said two bodies were recovered from Azimuddin Mor area and one each from Sthalchar, Ghushuria and Jotpara areas.

"Locals informed us after noticing the bodies floating in the river," he said.

The overcrowded boat lost its balance after being hit by strong waves, said Dewan Moudud Ahmed, upazila nirbahi officer of Chowhali.

Most of the passengers were job seekers and poor people who were returning to the capital and its adjoining districts after Eid holiday, said Nazrul Islam, chairman of Sthalchar union.

The boat was carrying the passengers to Pakuriaghat in Tangail, he said.