45 killed, 200 missing as passenger vessels sink

DHAKA, MAY 2. At least 45 people were killed and more than 200 missing after two passenger ferries sank in the Maghan river in eastern Bangladesh.

MV Dolphin, en route to Bhairab from Nabinagar district, capsized with about 150 passengers on board near a fertilizer factory yesterday, district administrative chief of Brahamanberia district Lutfar Rahman said today.

Bengali daily `Jugantar', quoting latest reports from the disaster site in Brahamanberia said 44 bodies of the victims had been recovered and that 16 of them have been identified. The body of a woman was also recovered from the other sunken ferry. Earlier report had said 28 bodies were recovered.

Rahman said the launch sank when passengers tried to leave the vessel in panic after a storm blew away its roof.

In another incident, a launch carrying about 150 passengers sank on its way to Nabinagar from Bhariab, the official BSS news agency said adding 50 people managed to swim ashore. A woman's body was later recovered from the site.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed mourned the deaths from the ferry disasters.

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Section  : International
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