Four bodies found after Rohingya trawler sinks in Naf River; BGB member among missing
At least four bodies were found floating in the Naf River after a trawler carrying Rohingyas capsized while attempting to enter Bangladesh illegally from Myanmar through Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, officials have said.
The bodies — those of three women and a child — were spotted by locals in the estuary near Shah Porir Dwip and Damdamia around Saturday evening, said Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, upazila nirbahi officer of Teknaf.
“Recovery efforts are underway with the help of locals,” he told reporters.
The incident took place around midnight on Friday when the trawler, reportedly carrying Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar, sank near the jetty at Westpara of Shah Porir Dwip after it developed a leak.
Lt Col Md Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-2 in Teknaf, said 25 Rohingyas were rescued alive from the sea during an operation involving BGB members and local fishermen.
However, one BGB member went missing during the rescue, he said.
The missing soldier has been identified as Sepoy Mohammad Belal, 28, who was posted at the Shah Porir Dwip border outpost under Sabrang Union. A rifle and four magazines that were in his possession are also missing, the BGB official added.
“The trawler was later recovered, and rescue efforts are still ongoing,” Lt Col Ashiqur said.
Abdul Mannan, a member of Shah Porir Dwip Union Parishad, said he also received reports that several Rohingyas and a BGB member went missing after the trawler capsized.
