1 more body found in Jamuna

A body of a woman was recovered on Friday from Jamuna River, a day after a boat reportedly carrying up to 80 passengers sank at Chawhali Upazila in Sirajganj.

But the rescuers are yet to salvage the sunken boat even 24 hours after the accident.

The boat was on its way to Salimabad from Chawhali’s Mituani Bazar when it capsized on Thursday morning after crashing on a bridge.

Chawhali Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Abdullah said the rescue efforts stopped on Thursday evening and resumed around 11am Friday.

Locals found the body of Benu Khatun floating on the river five kilometres from the spot of the accident, he said.

The death toll now stands at eight.

Abdullah said BIWTA's salvage ship Asha-1 arrived earlier in the day and joined the search and rescue operation.

He said a five-strong team of Fire Service and Civil Defence divers from Dhaka and divers of the Sirajganj and Tangail Fire Service stations were engaged in the search operation.

But the heavy tide was hampering the salvage and rescue efforts, said Sirajganj Fire Service Deputy Director Abdul Hamid.

BIWTA Joint Director AKM Shahjahan Hossain said they were yet to salvage the boat.

Meanwhile, family members of the missing victims were assembling on the banks of the river.

The local administration said the number of missing passengers would not exceed 10, but locals claimed that the number would be three times more.

Khaspukuria UP Chairman Mizanur Rahman said, "The boat was carrying at least 80 passengers. We think at least 40 people are still missing."

The administration has not yet prepared a list of the missing passengers.