Boats capsize on Teknaf-St Martin's route: 3 bodies recovered
The deceased were identified as Md Ismail, 28, Mohammad Fahad, 30, and Nur Mohammad Saikat, 27
Three bodies were recovered off the Teknaf coast in Cox's Bazar today (26 July) following a boat and a speedboat capsizing on the Teknaf-Saint Martin's sea route on Wednesday.
"Two bodies washed ashore in Teknaf around 11:30am, and another body was found around 4pm," Muhammad Osman Goni, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, told The Business Standard.
The deceased were identified as Md Ismail, 28, Mohammad Fahad, 30, and Nur Mohammad Saikat, 27. All are residents of Saint Martin's Island.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Quoting locals, the OC said, "On Wednesday, a trawler capsized near Shah Porir Island on the Teknaf-Saint Martin's route. Subsequently, several people went to rescue the victims using boats and speedboats.
"During the rescue attempt, a speedboat capsized due to strong waves. Since then, three individuals have been missing."
The bodies were recovered and handed over to their relatives after legal procedures, the OC added.
Meanwhile, allegations have been raised against the Coast Guard of assaulting the deceased Fahad's brother Mohammad Faisal.
Faisal told TBS that when he heard the news of his brother Fahad's body floating off the Teknaf coast this morning, he tried to go to Teknaf. At that time, five members of the Coast Guard beat him, leaving him injured, he said.
He claimed that he was beaten due to a dispute between the Coast Guard members and the islanders over the rescue efforts.
Coast Guard's Saint Martin's Island station in-charge could not be reached for a comment over the matter.
