At least nine passengers went missing in a trawler capsize in the Dhaleshwari River at Fatullah in Narayanganj on Wednesday.

The trawler with around 40 passengers capsized when a launch hit it amid dense fog in the river. 

Divers of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) were searching for the victims, but could rescue none of them till 7:00pm.

Abdullah Al Arefin, deputy assistant director (Zone-1) of FSCD Narayanganj, told the Daily Sun that nine passengers had gone missing in the accident.

“We are carrying out rescue operation, but could not find anybody till now,” he said.

“A launch named MV Sobhan hit the trawler which was going to Dharmaganj Ghat from Sipaibari Ghat. The rescue operation has been suspended for today and it will begin on Thursday morning,” he also said.

Ziaul Morshed, in-charge (IC) of Boktaboli River Police Outpost, told the Daily Sun that the trawler with about 40 passengers had left the ghat around 8:30am.

Then the staffers and passengers of the launch threw buoys to the floating passengers of the trawler. Most of the passengers could swim ashore while some remained missing, he said.

“We are trying to seize the launch,” he added.