Death toll reaches 50 in Panchagarh boat capsize
The trawler with Hindu devotees capsized on Sunday
The death toll from the trawler capsize in the Karatoa River rose to 50 as 26 more bodies were retrieved from the river in Boda upazila of Panchagarh yesterday.
Boda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sujoy Kumar Roy said of the 26 bodies, 17 were recovered this morning and the other nine were recovered this evening.
On Sunday, 24 bodies were recovered after a boat carrying over a hundred passengers beyond its capacity capsized in the river in northern Panchagarh district.
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Passengers were going to Badeshwari temple on the occasion of the celebration of Mahalaya, the auspicious occasion heralding the advent of goddess Durga.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Zahurul Islam said a five-member probe committee has been formed to look into the incident and the committee has been asked to submit its report by three working days.
At least 70-80 people were rescued alive following the incident, he said.
The bodies of those identified have been handed over to their relatives, the DC added.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan, Thakurgaon-1 constituency lawmaker Ramesh Chandra Sen and Dinajpur-1 lawmaker Manoranjan Shil Gopal visited the scene.
