Bhairab trawler capsize: Father of missing constable files case

A case has been filed in the incident of a trawler capsize in Bhairab of Kishoreganj, which resulted in the death of at least three people with six others still missing.

A trawler, with 22-23 passengers, en route to Bhairab from Ashuganj went under after being hit by a bulkhead in the Meghna River near Bhairab on Friday (22 March).

Abdul Alim, father of constable Sohel Rana who has been missing since the trawler capsize, filed the case with Ashuganj police station yesterday (23 March).

He accused the engineer and the helmsman of the bulkhead in the case, but did not mention their names.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ashuganj police station Nahid Ahmed said a case has been filed against the helmsman and engineer of the bulkhead. The police will quickly start investigation and try to arrest the accused, he added.

Thus far, three bodies - two women and a child - have been recovered while six people, including Constable Sohel Rana and his two children, have been missing since the accident.

The capsised trawler was recovered today (24 March).

Rezaul Karim, deputy director of Bhairab and Ashuganj seaport, said a rescue ship of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)'s located the trawler and moved it toward the river bank yesterday (23 March) at Charsonarampur in Ashuganj and started the salvage operation today (24 March) morning.

The trawler was brought above surface around 12pm. Later, the divers looked for the missing persons inside the trawler. However, no one was found inside, said Rezaul Karim.

Azizul Haque, station officer of Bhairab Fire Service and Civil Defense, said it is believed that the missing people have been swept away by the current. As two days have passed since the incident, the hope of finding them alive is slim. However, divers are still trying to rescue them from the river.