A woman died and four members of the same family went missing after a trawler carrying 14 passengers sank in the Meghna River in Sonargaon on Thursday while they were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony.
Nine passengers were rescued alive after the trawler sank in the Sonamayi area of Baidyerbazar.
The deceased was identified as Rayesa Begum, 40.
The missing passengers are Helal Uddin, 55, Sajib, 24, Samia, 17, and Samin, 5. They, along with Rayesa, were residents of Homna in Cumilla, according to local sources.
The passengers were travelling to attend the wedding of Sajia Akter, 19, and Shishir in Haria area of Baidyerbazar Union.
Locals said the trawler came under a storm shortly after reaching the Sonamayi area and sank in the river.
A nearby trawler operated by Aman Company rushed to the scene and rescued nine passengers alive. Rayesa was also rescued but was later declared dead.
Two cows and a goat were reportedly being transported on the trawler along with the passengers.
Mastafizur Rahman, resident medical officer at Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex, confirmed that a woman had been brought to the facility and declared dead.
Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy director of Narayanganj Fire Service, said a team of divers had been sent to the scene to search for the four missing passengers.
“Search operations could not be conducted at night due to poor visibility. The operation will resume tomorrow morning,” he said.
