Over 20 missing as boat capsizes in Bay of Bengal

Image
Press Trust of India Dhaka
Last Updated : Jan 29 2015 | 3:55 PM IST
Over 20 people are missing after an overloaded fishing boat carrying illegal migrants to Malaysia capsized in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Bangladesh today, the latest such accident in the country.
The boat carrying some 60 passengers capsized after the strong current overturned it off the southeastern Kutubdia island.
"A total of 39 passengers have so far been rescued and two of our vessels are scouring the sea in search of more," a coastguard official told TV channels.
Some people managed to swim to safety.
A private channel quoting a navy official said divers traced the boat near the shoreline and found no body inside.
The reports said three suspected human traffickers have been handed over to police for subsequent legal actions after the incident.
Police said it appeared all the passengers were Bangladeshi who intended to go to Malaysia illegally defying previous warnings against such attempts.
Bangladesh in recent years witnessed attempts by its nationals as well as Myanmar's Rohingya refugees to go to Malaysia for a better life.
Some 100 people have died in an identical incident in 2012.
Officials say middlemen take money from these people, promising them send them to Malaysia, but in most cases they land in jails there as intruders.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 29 2015 | 3:55 PM IST

Next Story