2 fishermen killed in lightning strike

Two fishermen from Rajnagar upazila in Moulvibazar were killed after being struck by lightning while fishing in adverse weather conditions in Hakaluki Haor, the country’s largest wetland.

Another fisherman remains missing.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the Gayasi Haor area of Fenchuganj upazila in Sylhet district.

The deceased were identified as Sabir Mia, 40, son of Rafiq Mia, and Hamid Mia, 45, son of Zahir Uddin, both residents of Kamalpur village in Uttarbhag union of Rajnagar upazila.

Another fisherman, Kabil Mia, 50, has yet to be found. It is feared that he was also struck by lightning and drowned. Hamid and Kabil are brothers.

Delwar Hossain, a cousin of the deceased Sabir, said the three fishermen had travelled by boat from their village via the Kushiyara River to Hakaluki Haor, where they regularly fish using traditional fishing rods.

After catching and selling fish, they were struck by lightning while returning home.
A rescue operation was underway to locate the missing fisherman, with divers searching the haor.

Rajnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Farid Uddin confirmed the incident, saying that two fishermen died after being struck by lightning while fishing in Hakaluki Haor, while another remained missing.