23 dead, several others missing after ferry collides with fishing boat in eastern Bangladesh

Bangladeshi media reports that a total of 23 people are confirmed dead after a ferry capsized and sank in the Laiska River in the country’s eastern district of Brahmanbaria on Friday, August 27.

Witnesses said the ferry keeled over, causing some of those on board to fall into the water, after it collided with a sand-laden trawler at 17:45 local time on Friday.

Rescuers initially recovered 19 bodies from the incident site. The death toll has since risen to 23 after four more bodies were found by the evening of Sunday, August 29.

Officials said an undetermined number of people are still missing while around 50 survivors were reportedly able to swim to shore immediately following the capsizing.

The incident had also left 30 people with varying degrees of injury, though none were considered life-threatening.

Local police have meanwhile seized the trawler as part of the investigation into the mishap.

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