Three more bodies were recovered from the turbulent Padma on Thursday taking the death toll to four from Wednesday’s speedboat capsize incident. On Wednesday, two fishing speedboats collided head-on while catching mother hilsas defying a fishing ban at Jajira point of Padma River in Shariatpur. One body was recovered on the same day.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Mannan (55) of Morolerkandi village in Jajirah, Bachchu Madbar (35) of North Jamlidia village of Munshiganj and Niaz Uddin (35) of Senarchor village of Bhola. Police recovered the bodies from the Padma river in Barakandi area of Jajira on Thursday afternoon and evening.
Jajira Police Station and local sources said that the fishermen were catching mother hilsa and violating the ban on Padma river in Jajira of Shariatpur and Shimulia of Munshiganj. In addition to engine-driven boats, speedboats are also used for fishing. Sources said that Neil Chan Fakir and Keenan Kha’s speedboats collided head-on while fishing in the Jhinu Market area on Wednesday.
Swapan Mollah (35) was killed on the spot while on Neil Chan Fakir’s speedboat. The local administration confirmed that Mannan Beppari was missing. But the bodies of Abdul Mannan, Bachchu Madbar and Niaz Uddin were recovered from the Barakandi area of Jazira on Thursday.
Jazira police officer in-charge (OC) Belayet Hossain said, "Three more bodies have been recovered on Thursday in connection with two speedboats’ collision while fishing on Wednesday. A total of four bodies were recovered. But we are not sure if anyone else is missing."
