Five die after boat capsizes in Tangail

Five people lost their lives after a boat capsized near the Gilabari village in Tangail on Friday.

The deceased are Taij Uddin, 50, Jamela Begum, 60 and her son Rahman Rono, 35, Ruma Begum, 32 of Gilabari village, and Shah Alam, 25, of Koiyamodhu village under Shakhipur upazila.

Confirming the matter, local Union Parishad member Rubel Miah said "The boat was passing through a canal from Doriyapur under Shakhipur upazila to Gilabari village in Basail.

"Around 3:30pm, when the boat reached Gilabari local market area, the boatman came in contact with a live electric wire. The passengers panicked and their sudden movement caused the boat to capsize."

The UP member also said that they have recovered five dead bodies from the scene and the number of people who went missing is still unknown.

Basail Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Harun-ur-Rashid said they are aware of the incident and police are on their way to the scene.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Basail upazila, Shamsunnahar Shwapna said divers from the fire service are conducting a search operation in a bid to find more bodies at the site of the unfortunate incident.