Sub-inspector (SI) Tarikul Islam of Kaliganj police said the incident took place during a collision between a passengers’ trawler and two other sand-laden trawlers around 4pm on Sunday.
He said a Pran-RFL trawlert with 45 passengers started from Kaliganj municipality area for Danga under Palash upazila.
At that time, the trawler came into collision with two other sand-laden trawlers coming from opposite direction. The passengers carrying trawler capsized immediately, the official said.
After capsize, some twenty-four passengers managed to reach ashore of the river.
The locals, police and fire service men are giving efforts to rescue the missing passengers.
A group of divers are heading towards the spot to join the rescue operation, the police official said.