Speedboat capsize: Bodies of all 5 missing passengers recovered

Bodies of all five passengers, who went missing after a speedboat capsized in Agunmukha estuary in Rangabali upazila of Patuakhali, have been recovered.

The deceased are Rangabali police station's constable Mahibbulla (45), from Pakgachha village in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal; Md Kabir (30), loan officer of Rangabali Khalgora branch of NGO 'Asha'; Mostafizur Rahman (35), inspector of Baherchar branch of Krishi Bank who is from Auliapur village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila; Hasan (25) of Amkhola village in Galachipa upazila; and Imran (25) of Konakdia village of Baufal upazila of Patuakhali.

Members of Bangladesh Coastguard recovered three of the bodies from Tetulia river in Ulania Bazar under Galachipa upazila and two bodies were recovered from Ramnabad river in Rangabali, said Officer-in-Charge of Rangabali Police Station Ali Ahmed.

Due to rough weather, a speedboat with 18 passengers sank at the estuary of Agunmukha river -- where seven rivers including Tetulia and Ramnabad meet -- on Thursday evening.

Thirteen of the passengers managed to swim ashore while the rest went missing, reports our Patuakhali correspondent.

The recovered bodies were being handed over to their respective families, OC Ali Ahmed said in the morning.

On the other hand, Khwaja Sadiqur Rahman, assistant director of Patuakhali River Port, said all 65ft-long vessels were banned from operating on all inland routes in the district from Wednesday due to stormy weather.

But the speedboat was running neglecting the ban. Legal action was being taken against the speedboat owners.