Boat capsize in Padma leaves 4 dead

The bodies of four people who went missing in a boat capsize incident in the Padma River in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj were recovered on Wednesday afternoon.

The four are Nilufa Begum, 50, her granddaughter Maisha Khatun, 5, Asmaul, 5, and his sister Aisha, 3.

Several others were still missing while 20 people were rescued alive, Shibganj police station OC Farid Hossain said.

According to locals, the boat — carrying around 35 people — had left Boglauri Ghat for Dasharshia at noon and capsized at one point owing to bad weather.

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Later, locals contacted the police and Fire Service, leading to the recovery and rescue.

The boat was dangerously overweight when it capsized, a local claimed.

Meanwhile, further rescue operations were being hampered by strong currents in the Padma River, Fire Service official Ujjal Huq said.

Those rescued were given first aid, OC Farid said, adding that police and Fire Service divers were conducting the rescue operations jointly.