Four Rohingyas, among three children, drowned as after a boat capsized in the Meghna River near Noakhali's Hatiya upazila while en route to Bhasan Char on Saturday.
However, 19 others were rescued by Coast Guard members, Naval Police, and Fire Service.
Bhasan Char Police Station officer-in-charge Abu Jafar confirmed the matter.
The deceased were identified as Laila Begum, 45, wife of Dil Mohammad from Cluster 85 of Bhasan Char; Abdul Kader, 4, son of Mohammad Abdullah from Cluster 84; Azizul Haque, 5, son of Mohammad Jahar from Cluster 80; and Asmida Begum, 4, daughter of Mohammad Rashid from Cluster 8.
The boat was en route to Hatiya's Bhasan Char from the Chattogram Fishery Ghat, carrying goods like rice and pulses along with passengers.
The boat's operator, Md. Humayun, said that they were heading towards Bhasan Char area from Chattogram Fishery Ghat at around 8:00am with goods and 23 passengers. However, at around 11:00 am, as the boat approached Hatiya's boundary in the Meghna River, it was caught in a sudden storm and capsized.
Upon receiving the news, nearby boats rushed to rescue the passengers, followed by a rapid response from the Naval Police and Coast Guard, who rescued other passengers unharmed, said the OC.
The recovered bodies have been taken to Bhasan Char Police Station, he added.
SA
