Netrakona boat capsize: 17 bodies rescued, 2 missing

17 bodies have been recovered so far and two people still remained missing in connection with a boat capsize in uchitpur haor under Madan upazila of Netrakona district.

The boat carrying 48 passengers capsized at Govindashree Rajalikanda of the upazila around 11:45am on Wednesday (August 5).

Of them, 30 people managed to swim ashore while two people still remained missing.

Quoting locals, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Madan Police Station Ramijul Haque said the boat sank due to strong current in the haor, leaving 17 dead. Besides, it has been learnt that the boat was carrying additional passengers.

A group of 48 teachers and students of a madrasa from Char Shirta union in Sadar upazila of Mymensingh came to visit uchitpur haor, locally known as Mini Cox's Bazar, by a mechanised boat around 1pm, according to a source at the upazila administration.

Local people, fire brigades and police launched a rescue operation.

Madan Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bulbul Ahmed Talukder visited the spot around 3pm and said 17 bodies were rescued so far. All the dead are male. Of them, two are children.

Identities of the deceased and missing could not be known immediately, he said.