MUNSHIGANJ: The search operation is going on for the fourth day to trace the 20 people who went missing after a boat capsized in the Meghna river at Charjhapta in Sadar upazila.
 
Deputy Commissioner Shayla Farzana on Thursday (Jan 17) night formed a nine-member committee headed by Additional District magistrate Mobassherul Islam to probe the trawler capsize incident.

Mobassherul Islam on Friday (Jan 18) confirmed the matter to Banglanews.

Others members of the committee are Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Gozaria UNO, Additional Superintendent Police (Sadar circle), Coastguard officer of area concerned, River Police Officer, BIWTA officers, Fire Service Officer and District Relief & Disaster affairs officer.
  
“The committee asked police to seize the tanker which hit the trawler and it has already talked to people who survived in the accident,” he said.

Mizanur Rahman, in charge of Gozaria rival police outpost, said members of police Fire Service, River Police Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Coast Guard, diver team of Bangladesh Navy are conducting the search operation.

They are using Hydrographic Survey and sonar system to find out the workers, he added. 

The accident took place early on Wednesday (Jan 16) when a soil-laden trawler with 34 workers heading towards Narayanganj sank in the river after being collided with a goods-laden ship, said Asad Ali, sub inspector of Gozaria rival police outpost.

A sum of 14 workers managed to swim ashore while 20 remain missing in the incident, he added.

Of them, 18 workers hailed from Pabna district.

BDST: 1621 HRS, JAN 18, 2019
RS