Munshiganj: Three people are still missing while 27 were able to swim ashore in a trawler capsize of the district on Saturday afternoon.

A soil-laden trawler hit by strong current capsized with 30 passengers in the river Padma adjacent to Shimuliaghat of Louhajang upazila in the district.

27 passengers were able to swim ashore while 3 passengers remained missing. Immediately after the incident, the district superintendent of police said two trawlers capsized and 34 people went missing.  

The missing passengers are: Sohel, 32, hailed from Sultanpur village of Vangura upazila in Pabna, Jahangir, 35, from Chandpur village of same upazila and Jakir, 32, from Thamahildha village of Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district. Louhajang upazila UNO Md Khalekuzzaman confirmed their identities.

Police and eye witnesses said all of the missing and rescued passengers are earth lifting labourers.

A number of survivors said a sand carrying trawler Akib Enterprise with soil for brick kiln was heading to Fatullah of Narayanganj from Sadarpur upazila of Faridpur. On the face of strong current, the trawler suddenly capsized near Shimuliaghat of Louhajang. Seeing the capsize, drivers of speed boat at Shimuliaghat rushed to the accident spot to rescue the passengers. The speed boat drivers were able to help rescue 27 people.

Soil lifting labour Mozammel Haque, who survived the accident, said there were 30 passengers in their trawler. He saw that 16 passengers were rescued. He could not tell the condition of rest of the passengers.

Driver of Akib Enterprise Sekendar Ali said there were 30 passengers in the trawler. He talked to 27 survivors. Three passengers remained missing.

Police super Biplob Bijoy Talukder said divers of fire service were unable to make any headway due to wave in the river.  

Sajal/RI