DHAKA, 13 September 2004 — At least 18 people were killed in Bangladesh yesterday in three incidents of boat sinking and landslides caused by storms and rains.
In Sirajganj district, seven people drowned and 32 went missing as an engine-propelled ferry boat capsized in the Jamuna River off the town yesterday morning.
Sub-Inspector Iman Ali of Natoarpara police outpost was among those missing after the fatal ferry accident. SI Ali hailed from Lalpur in Natore.
Seven bodies of the victims were found seven kilometer downstream the river. Of the deceased, six were identified as Mridul, 5, Chan Miah, 55, Zia, 8, Bijoy, 5, Sujan, 2, and Rawshan Ara, 45.
Police and witnesses said the boat with about 60-70 passengers sailed from Natoarpara in Kazipur sub-district and got caught in storms and capsized near Hard Point at Ranigram in Sirajganj town at 9:15 a.m.
Nineteen of the passengers swam ashore after the boat capsized. Eleven of them were admitted to Sadar Hospital.
Rescue operation was hampered due to strong currents in the river and inclement weather.
Gusty wind coupled with showers crippled normal life across the country yesterday under the impact of what the Met office said “well-marked low” over the Bay of Bengal.
Five trawlers with six fishermen, which sank in the sea near Saint Martin’s coast in a storm yesterday, remain untraced. The missing fishermen are feared dead and their identities could not be known immediately.
Abul Bashar, president of Fishing Boat Owners’ Association of Saint Martin’s Island said that 35 fishing trawlers, out of 50, went to the sea for fishing and were caught in the storm. Later, 30 trawlers returned to the shore.
But Bashar, quoting a fisherman who managed to swim ashore, confirmed the sinking of four trawlers.
Landslide caused by incessant rains in southeastern Chittagong district have killed five persons. Five members of a family, including three children, were killed and owner of the house sustained injuries in landslide in South Solimpur area of Sitakunda subdistrict early yesterday morning.
The victims were identified as Rokeya Begum, 25, wife of house owner Abul Kalam Azad, her three children — Rabbi, 7, Rima, 4, Rabin 2 — and her sister Fatema Begum, 27.
Police said the tragic incident took place when a big chunk of mud from hilltop fell down on Kalam’s mud house in Somederpara.
Meanwhile, the well-marked low over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-Bangladesh coast moved north-northwestward inland and developed as a land depression over West Bengal-Bangladesh coast.
It is likely to move in a north-northeasterly direction further inland and weaken slowly by giving moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country.
