Trawler capsizes in Mongla with excessive passengers amid great danger signal 10

A trawler carrying at least 80 passengers capsized in the Mongla River in Bagerhat. The incident occurred at Mongla River Ghat around 9:30 am on Sunday (May 26) amidst great danger signal 10 issued due to the cyclone. Naval police, fire service, and coastguard divers are actively engaged in search and rescue operations.

According to locals, hundreds of passengers have been ferried across the river on trawlers since Sunday morning. The majority of them are workers from a factory called 'VIP' in the EPZ. Each trawler was carrying between 70 to 80 passengers.

Regarding this matter, Mizanur Rahman, the manager of the human resources department at the VIP factory, stated that the factory was shut down after danger signal number 7 was issued.

In this context, Noor Islam Babul, the General Secretary of the Mongla River Trawler Owners Traders Association, told the media, "What are we supposed to do if passengers leap onto the trawler?"

Nishat Tamanna, Executive Officer of Mongla Upazila, stated, "We are currently conducting an investigation following the trawler accident. We are closely monitoring municipal CCTV footage to ascertain if any passengers are missing."