NOAKHALI, Aug 11: Four Rohingyas including three children drowned as a boat capsized in the Meghna River near Hatiya Upazila of the district while en route to Bhasan Char on Saturday.
However, 19 others were rescued by the Coast Guard members, Naval Police, and Fire Service personnel.
The deceased were identified as Laila Begum, 45, wife of Dil Mohammad of Cluster 85 in Bhasan Char; Abdul Kader, 4, son of Mohammad Abdullah of Cluster 84; Azizul Haque, 5, son of Mohammad Jahar of Cluster 80; and Asmida Begum, 4, daughter of Mohammad Rashid of Cluster 8.
It was known that the boat was en route to Bhasan Char in Hatiya Upazila 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 am with goods and 23 passengers.
However, at around 11 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 the Coast Guard, and rescued other passengers unharmed.
The bodies of the two deceased have been recovered and taken to Bhasan Char Police Station (PS).
Officer-in-Charge of Bhasan Char PS Abu Jafar confirmed the incident.
