Four honey collectors gone missing after boat capsize in Sundarbans

Four honey collectors have been rescued alive while four others remain missing after a boat capsized in the Sundarbans following a storm, forest officials said.

The incident took place on April 6 night in the Kachikata area under the Satkhira Range of the Sundarbans when a group of honey collectors were caught in severe weather while collecting honey.

According to the Forest Department, the boat sank around 9pm amid strong winds, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.

Four survivors were later found drifting and reached the Haldibunia Forest Patrol Outpost on Tuesday evening.

They were identified as Sabur Khan, Monirul Islam, Alam Mahmud Sheikh and Yunus Ali. They received primary treatment before being taken to the Burigoalini station on Thursday night and later returned home by their families.

However, four others from Satkhira’s Shyamnagar upazila remain missing. They are Akbar Molla, Oliur Rahman, Mikail Hossain and Ikramul Kabir.

Burigoalini Forest Station officer Fazlul Rahman said eight licensed honey collectors had entered the forest on April 1. Rescue operations are ongoing with the involvement of the Forest Department, Coast Guard, BGB and local police.

Search efforts are continuing to locate the missing individuals.