Death toll in Sandwip boat capsize rises to 5

Another body was recovered in last night’s boat capsize in the Sandwip Channel of Chittagong, raising the death toll to five.

Local boatmen recovered the body of one Hafiz Amin Rosul, 45, of Sandwip, from Bhatar Char in Hatiya today, Md Golam Zakaria, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Sandwip, told our Chittagong correspondent.

At least 18 people are still missing, the UNO said, adding that the rescue operation in search of the missing people was halted around 6:00 pm due to rough weather, and will resume tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chittagong district administration has formed a seven-member probe committee, led by the Sandwip UNO, to investigate the incident.

Earlier, members of Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered bodies of four passengers who went missing after the boat capsized.

The four other deceased were identified as Sachindra Jaladash, 55, Boroda Jaladash, 60, and Md Salauddin, 30, of Sandwip, and Abdul Haque, 60, of Senbagh in Noakhali district, said Mosiuddowla Reza, Chittagong additional superintendent of police (north zone).

The boat carrying over 50 passengers capsized in Guptachhar area due to rough weather and tidal wave of the sea, the UNO said.

Some 26 passengers managed to swim ashore or were rescued by locals, police said. Families of the five deceased have been given Tk 25,000 each as compensation by the Chittagong district administration, the UNO added.