Meghna River trawler capsizes in storm, killing one and leaving four missing

A trawler carrying 13 passengers capsized in the Meghna River near Sonargaon, Narayanganj, due to sudden stormy winds and large waves. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon while the group was traveling from Comilla to attend a wedding in Sonargaon.

One woman, identified as Rashida Begum, has been confirmed dead. Four members of the same family—Helal Uddin, Sajeeb Hossain, Samia Akter, and Samin Hossain—remain missing. While eight passengers were rescued by a nearby Aman Cement company trawler, the missing individuals and the vessel itself have not yet been located.

Search operations are being conducted by the Fire Service and Civil Defense, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Coast Guard, and naval police. Rescuers are facing difficulties due to strong currents, high winds, and river depths reaching 90 to 100 feet in certain areas. Laser cameras are being utilized to assist in the search for the missing persons and the sunken trawler.