Apparel factory official drowns following boat capsize in Karnaphuli

An official of an apparel factory drowned while another went missing following the capsize of an engine-run passenger boat in Karnaphuli River early Tuesday.

The accident happened around 8am off No.12 Jetty on the south side of the river.

The deceased was identified as Saikat Barua, 30, son of Prashanta Barua, a resident of Karnaphuli upazila in Chittagong. He was working as a quality control officer at a readymade garment factory at EPZ area in the city.

After being rescued alive, two people-Ibrahim Khalil, 40 and Salauddin, 39-were receiving treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

The identity of the missing person could not be known immediately.

Quoting the witnesses, Dulal Mahmud, Officer-in-Charge of Karnaphuli police station said that the boat carrying 30-35 passengers sank following a collision with a stone-laden barge.

“Three people rescued in a critical state following the boat capsize were rushed to the hospital. The on-duty doctor pronounced one dead upon arrival while the two others are receiving treatment at the hospital,” said the OC.