Deaths at 22 in Bangladesh boat sinking
DHAKA, Bangladesh — At least 22 people died when a Bangladeshi passenger boat sank with more than 100 people aboard, and the driver of a cargo vessel suspected of colliding with the boat was arrested, officials said Saturday.
The boat sank Friday evening in a large body of water in the eastern district of Brahmanbari, 51 miles east of the capital, Dhaka.
No passengers were believed missing after nearly 24 hours of search efforts, said Emon Sarker, a duty officer with the district’s fire service and civil defense, who also provided the final death toll. That’s after initial reports said around 50 passengers were missing, citing officials and media outlets.
“Maybe many swam to safety. There was no passenger list. It happens here. Today, nobody came to us looking for any missing people,” Sarker said by phone.
Bangladesh is crisscrossed by 230 rivers and water transport is heavily used to move people and goods. But deadly accidents are common because of unskilled operation and poor enforcement of safety rules.
Sarker said the sunken boat was still submerged and would be pulled to shore today.
The cargo boat’s driver and two assistants were caught by residents in the Bijoynagar area and turned over to the authorities, said Anisur Rahman, district police superintendent.
Police official Imranul Islam initially provided the figure of 21 dead, speaking by phone late Friday. Survivors said about 100 people were aboard.