5 dead, 3 missing as boat capsizes in Turag

At least five people, including four children, died after a boat carrying 18 passengers sank in the River Turag yesterday.

Three more passengers are missing since the boat sank at 6:30 am near the capital's Amin Bazar Koyla Ghat area following a collision with a sand-laden trawler, according to officials.

"Bodies of five people – four children and a woman – have been recovered," said Dhaka River Police Superintendent Khandakar Faridul Islam.

The River Police concluded the rescue operation at sunset on the day with the three people still missing.  

Khandakar said a strong current in the river was making the rescue work difficult.

"We are trying to identify the deceased," he added.

Divers recovered the bodies around 3:45 pm and 4:45 pm from the river near the Amin Bazar area, according to Khaleda Yasmin, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters.