Two Dead as Trawler Capsizes in Meghna River Storm

A sudden summer storm led to a tragic maritime accident in the Meghna River on Monday morning, leaving two people dead after a passenger and cargo trawler capsized near the Charkilla area of Hijla Upazila in Barishal.

According to officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the vessel was carrying a yield of harvested soybeans alongside passengers, travelling from Govindapur towards Shaowra. At approximately 8:30 am, the trawler was caught in a violent Kalbaishakhi—a severe seasonal nor’wester storm typical of the early summer months in the region. The sudden tempest caused the overloaded vessel to lose stability and sink within minutes.

While the vessel’s skipper and eleven passengers managed to swim to safety on the riverbanks, two individuals went missing in the turbulent waters.

Upon receiving news of the capsize, officers from Hijla Police Station immediately initiated a search and rescue operation in collaboration with local fishermen. Following an extensive search of the river, emergency responders retrieved the body of 55-year-old Abdur Rob Bepari at around 11:00 am. Half an hour later, at approximately 11:30 am, authorities recovered the body of 15-year-old Rajib Bhuiyan, a local ninth-grade student.

“The sudden arrival of the storm left the passengers with very little time to react,” stated Asim Kumar Sikdar, Officer-in-Charge of Hijla Police Station. “With the coordinated efforts of local residents and fishermen, both missing bodies were eventually recovered and brought to shore.”

Ajmal Huda Mithu, Joint Director of the BIWTA, confirmed that the vessel was navigating a customary route when it encountered the severe weather conditions. Riverine transit along the Meghna River remains a crucial lifelines for rural communities in coastal districts like Barishal, serving as the primary means of moving local agricultural produce and commuters. However, the onset of the nor’wester season frequently presents severe hazards to small, unpowered or minimally equipped local trawlers, which are particularly vulnerable to sudden atmospheric shifts and swift river currents.