Trawler collides with cargo vessel

A man went missing and at least 10 others were injured when a passenger trawler collided head-on with a cargo vessel in the Kirtonkhola River in Barisal Sadar upazila on Monday night.

The missing man is Abul Bashar of Dakkhin Sakuchia village in Monpura upazila of Bhola district.

Alauddin, one of the injured passengers, said the trawler, MV Nurul, with at least 50 followers of Charmonai Pir aboard was going to Charmonai Darbar Sharif in Barisal Sadar upazila from Janata Bazaar in Monpura upazila of Bhola.

The trawler collided with the cargo vessel in the river, about one kilometre off the bank, around 8:00pm.

At least 10 people sustained injuries and five others fell into the river. Of them, four were rescued by the local fishermen while another remained missing.

The injured were treated at a medical camp set up at Charmonai Darbar Sharif.

Contacted, Abul Bashar Majumdar, deputy director (river safety and traffic) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in Barisal, said they were not aware of the incident.

Kawsar Hossain, another passenger of the trawler, said they were going to attend a three-day mehfil (religious function) at Charmonai Darbar Sharif that started after Zohr prayers yesterday.