A man died, and eight others are still remain missing after a passenger trawler carrying 39 people capsized in the Meghna River near Dubarchar area, adjacent to Karim Bazar in Hatiya, on Saturday afternoon, due to strong winds and waves.
The identity of the victim could not be ascertained immediately, said Noakhali Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime Operations), Mohammad Ibrahim.
"As of 9 pm, eight people, including Saiful Islam (28), a district council member working at Bhasanchar police station, are still missing," he added.
A total of 31 people have been rescued.
Along with local fishermen and police, the Coast Guard has joined the rescue operation, ASP Ibrahim added.
Earlier, the trawler left Bhasanchar Ghat around 2pm for Alibazar Ghat in Hatiya with 39 passengers on board.
“After covering nearly eight kilometres, the trawler sank in a short time amid rough weather and strong waves near Dubarchar in the Meghna River,” said Bhasanchar Police Station OC Md Kutub Uddin.
When the vessel began to sink, passengers jumped into the river in a last ditch attempt to survive.
OC Kutub Uddin added that the trawler was transporting several patients from the Rohingya camp in Bhasan Char to Noakhali 250-bed General Hospital for advanced treatment, accompanied by four police personnel.