DHAKA, 10 April 2006 — Rescuers found two bodies yesterday and were searching for more people missing after a goods-laden fishing boat capsized in a storm in northern Bangladesh overnight.
The trawler, carrying bags of rice and fish along with 33 people on board, sank in the Meghna River near Kishoreganj, 80 kilometers north of the capital, Dhaka, the United News of Bangladesh said.
Eighteen passengers managed to swim ashore or were rescued by passing boats, while about 15 others were initially unaccounted for, it said.
Rescuers, who scoured the river for survivors along with local villagers, found the bodies of a woman and her four-year-old son, it added. The deceased were identified as Moyna Begum, 26, wife of Zakir Hossain of Chandiber area in Bhairab sub-district, and her four-year-old son Arman.
Zakir, who managed to swim ashore said the trawler loaded with paddy and fish left Paharpur in Sylhet district for Bhairab with passengers. It was caught in storm and capsized.
Official sources said divers started rescue operation in the morning yesterday. They located the sunken boat under 12 meters of water.
