A festive journey turned into a tragedy on Thursday afternoon when a engine-driven trawler carrying fourteen people capsized during a sudden storm on the Meghna River in Narayanganj. The vessel was carrying relatives travelling to a wedding ceremony when it sank near the Sonamuhhi area under Sonargaon Upazila. Whilst emergency responders and local residents managed to rescue nine passengers, five members of the same family were swept away by the river’s strong currents.
By Thursday evening, river police and local volunteers recovered the body of 55-year-old Rayesha Begum. However, her husband, Zakir Hossain, aged 54, and three of their children—Sajib Hossain, 24, Samia Akter, 17, and five-year-old Samin Hossain—remain missing. The family hailed from Kaillapur village in the Bancharampur Upazila of Brahmanbaria district. Anguished relatives have gathered along the riverbanks as search efforts continue.
Local authorities confirmed that the group had set off from Srimuddi village in the Homna Upazila of Cumilla, heading towards Hariya Baidyerpara village in Sonargaon’s Baidyerbazar Union. They were travelling to attend the wedding of Sajia Akter, the daughter of a local resident named Shahparan. Along with the passengers, the trawler was heavily laden with wedding supplies, essential provisions, and livestock, including two cows and a goat intended for the celebrations.
Tragedy struck as the vessel approached the Aman Cement Company plant in Sonamuhhi. A violent storm unexpectedly swept across the river, creating treacherous waves that overwhelmed the vessel and caused it to capsize within minutes. Seeing the vessel sink, workers aboard a nearby vessel owned by the cement factory reacted swiftly, navigating towards the site to pull nine struggling survivors out of the water.
Rescue operations were promptly initiated by the Fire Service and Civil Defence, alongside local river police and neighbourhood volunteers. Zahid Chowdhury, Station Officer at Sonargaon Fire Service, stated that specialist diving teams arrived at the scene to conduct preliminary reconnaissance and underwater searches. However, operations had to be suspended as darkness fell, making diving conditions extremely hazardous.
Inspector Shah Kamal, In-Charge of the Baidyerbazar River Police Outpost, confirmed that search activities will resume at first light on Friday morning. Meanwhile, Muhammad Abdul Barik, Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon Police Station, stated that Rayesha Begum’s body has been taken to the Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex, whilst law enforcement agencies maintain a vigil along the riverbank.
