An engine boat carrying 110 passengers capsized in the Bay of Bengal early Wednesday while trying to get into Malaysia illegally.
Eleven passengers were rescued by the members of Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Navy and Border Guard Bangladesh, reports our Cox’s Bazar correspondent quoting Col Zahid Hasan, commanding officer (CO) of BGB 42 Battalion.
Another 50 people managed to swim ashore, Hasan confirmed adding that most of the people of the boat were Myanmarese.
The boat capsized as it was overloaded, he said.
The 49 other victims remain missing till the evening when this report was filed.
The boat started for Malaysia from Sabrang union in Teknaf upazila with 110 passengers including seven women Tuesday midnight, Mojibor Rahman, who survived the capsize, told the BGB.
As the boat reached at Barobam in the upazila around 3:00am, the boat capsized, the BGB official said quoting Mojibor.
The commanding officer said local BGB team took Mojibor and 10 other rescued persons in their custody.
Coastguard and navy members were continuing operation in search of the missing passengers.
Meanwhile, members of Bangladesh Coastguard, BGB and police arrested 49 people from different places in Cox’s Bazar since Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon on their way to Malaysia illegally.
Source: The Daily Star
