Staff Reporter :
The torrential rain has paralysed the lives across the country while at least five fishermen were killed in trawler capsize and several others missing in different incidents over the last two days.
On Friday, six fishing boats sank due to the turbulent conditions in Cox’s Bazar.
According to Delwar Hossain, Secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Fishing Boat Owners Association, one boat named FB Rashida went down in the Labanir Channel near the shore, while five others sank at Inani Point.
Although many boatmen and crew members were able to reach the shore, five fishermen are still unaccounted for.
In the aftermath, two bodies have been recovered: Mohammad Jamal, 37, from Charamba, Lohagara, Chattogram, and Nurul Amin from the Bashkhali area. The search for the missing continues amidst the challenging conditions caused by a low-pressure system in the sea.
Hossain reports that between 30 and 35 fishing boats remain unaccounted for, raising further concerns.
But on Saturday, two more fishermen’s bodies have been found on Inani Beach in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.
This discovery brings the total number of recovered bodies to five in just two days.
Inspector Rezaul Karim from the Inani Police Outpost confirmed the incident, noting that the bodies were found around 2:30 pm on Saturday in Jaliapalong Union. One body has been identified as Abdul Karim, the identity of the other remains unknown.
Meanwhile, the adverse weather has caused 20 fishing boats with approximately 300 fishermen to be reported missing in Pathorghata. The boat owners’ association is currently unable to confirm whether these individuals are safe or in need of urgent rescue.
In Noakhali’s Hatia upazila, the severe weather has resulted in the sinking of 10 fishing boats in the Meghna River.
While 18 fishermen were rescued, five boats and eight fishermen are still missing. Authorities are working to locate the missing individuals and assess the full impact of this tragic event.
The severe weather conditions have caused widespread disruption and tragedy, and efforts are ongoing to assist those affected and to find the missing fishermen.
Meanwhile, BIWTA has suspended operation of all kinds of launches and C-Tracks in four routes until the next announcement following the inclement weather due to the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
The routes are Ilisha-Majuchowdhurir Hat, Hakimuddin-Alexander, Tajumuddin-Monpura and Betua-Monpur.
Md Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director of BIWTA told the media that cautionary signal number 3 has been hoisted for seaports and number 2 signal for river ports have been hoisted.
Meanwhile, the lives in Bhola have been paralysed due to continuous rainfall, causing sufferings for the day labourers and low income group of people.
The concerned officials said that there is fear of floods in the low lying areas if the rainfall continues. Approximately 58 mm rainfall was recorded in the last 24-hour in Bhola.
Meanwhile, water has receded from most of the areas of Cox’s Bazar town, but areas like Ramu, Ukhia, Teknaf were still inundated. The water level at Bakkhali and Matamuhuri rivers are flowing near the danger mark. If the heavy rainfall continues, there will be flood in the towns and villages of the area.
According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind likely occurred at most places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh , Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country.
The met office forecast that light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur on Sunday at many places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country.