30 missing as trawler sinks in Bangladesh

A trawler with more than 100 people aboard sank in stormy weather in Bangladesh today, leaving at least 30 missing, a police officer said.

It was this country’s third major maritime accident in a week.

The wooden fishing boat went down in the mouth of the Meghna River in coastal Bhola district, 65 miles south of the capital, Dhaka, said police officer Mozammel Hossain.

At least 70 people swam ashore or were rescued by passing boats, he said.

The boat was on its way from Bhola’s Tajumuddin district to Char Zahiruddin, a remote river island.

Seasonal storms, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, also sank two overcrowded ferries in the past week.

Today’s accident came four days after a ferry carrying a wedding party sank in neighbouring Patuakhali district, killing at least 88 people.

Rescuers, meanwhile, were still trying to salvage another ferry that capsized on Tuesday with 250 on board in central Manikganj district, leaving at least 33 dead.