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Bangladesh: 8 dead, more missing in boat sinking
Boat accidents due to lax safety standards and overloading are common in Bangladesh.
The overcrowded boat sank just yards from the river
station at Durlavpur in Sunamganj district, some 200
kilometres (120 miles) from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka,
local police chief Jane Alam Khan said.
"We`ve recovered eight dead bodies so far. The boat was
carrying over 100 passengers. We believe most people have swam
ashore because the boat sank close to the river station," he
told a news agency by phone from the site of the accident.
Khan said around 10 passengers are still missing,
although local online newspaper Bdnews24.com quoted a local
council chief as saying at least 50 passengers were
unaccounted for.
Sunamganj is home to some of the country`s major lakes
and boats are the main means of transport for the area`s
residents.
Thousands gathered on the banks of the river near the
scene of the accident to watch as the search effort got
underway.
Boat accidents due to lax safety standards and
overloading are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed
by 230 rivers.
PTI