At least 17 people died and more than fifty remained missing as a passenger carrying boat capsized after colliding with two sand-laden trawlers in Laiskar Beel under Bijaynagar upazila in Brahamanbaria.

The incident took place around 5:30 pm on Friday (August 27).

Anisur Rahman, Superintendent of Police (SP) in Brahmanbaria, confirmed about the recovery of 17 bodies around 8:45 pm.

Mohammad Rafi, an eyewitness who was in the boat, said, “I got on the boat from Champaknagar boat ghat in Bijayanagar upazila for going to Brahmanbaria at 4.30 pm. I sat on the roof of the boat. The boat capsized when it was hit by two sand-laden trawlers in Laiskar Beel of the Titas River in Brahmanbaria. Then I jumped into the water. After reaching the shore, I called the fire service. Later, fire servicemen rushed to the spot around 6:30 pm.”