Death toll rises to 12 in Bangladesh boat capsize

Dhaka, March 30 (IANS) The bodies of seven more people, who went missing after a trawler capsized in Bagerhat district of Bangladesh, were recovered on Thursday, raising the death toll to 12, a media report said.

The bodies of 12 people have been recovered so far while ten others still remained missing, said Rashedul Alam, officer-in-charge of Morelganj Police Station, the Daily Star news reported.

A team of fire service recovered the seven bodies from different points of the Panguchi river in the morning (Thursday), said Masud Sarder, a deputy assistant director of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The boat carrying over 70 passengers sank on Tuesday, 178 km from here.

About 50 people swam to shore as the overloaded boat capsized in a strong current and choppy river waters, Sarder added.

The bodies of three women and a child was recovered on the same day, while on Wednesday, another body of a woman was retrieved from the river.

Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers.

Ferries are still a key means of transport in the country, most of them often overcrowded.