By: Camp Correspondent
Bhasan Char, June 1, 2025 — At least four people, including a Rohingya woman, have died and nine others remain missing after an overloaded fishing trawler carrying 39 passengers capsized in the Meghna River near Hatiya’s Dubarchar on Saturday afternoon, May 31.
The boat, which had departed around 2:00 p.m. from Bhasan Char, was en route to Alibazar Ghat in Hatiya when it was struck by strong winds and rough waves, causing it to overturn approximately eight kilometers into the journey.
“The weather changed suddenly. The waves became too strong. The boat couldn’t hold,” said Mohammad Kutub Uddin, officer at the Bhasan Char police outpost.
Passengers Included Rohingya Refugees and Medical Patients
Among the 39 people on board were several Rohingya refugees, some of whom were being transferred to the 250-bed General Hospital in Hatiya for treatment. Others included NGO staff, Ansar personnel, and local civilians.
Of the passengers, 26 have been rescued, including four police officers, thanks to the quick response of local fishermen and emergency teams. But nine remain missing, and four bodies have been recovered, as confirmed by authorities.
“We are still searching,” said Sub-Inspector Shahid Uddin of the Janata Bazar police outpost in Hatiya. “Fishermen, police, and volunteers are continuing rescue operations around the clock.”
A Familiar and Avoidable Tragedy
This deadly accident highlights the fragile nature of water transport in coastal Bangladesh—particularly for vulnerable communities like the Rohingya, who depend on limited, risky travel routes to access healthcare and essential services.
Humanitarian workers say the tragedy could have been avoided with better weather monitoring, passenger limits, and stricter enforcement of river safety regulations.
“The sea and rivers have become our lifeline—but also a threat,” said a Rohingya volunteer from Bhasan Char. “We risk everything for a doctor’s appointment. This is not survival—it’s chance.”
Calls for Urgent Reform
Local leaders and aid workers are now calling for:
- Stronger regulation of water transport to and from Bhasan Char,
- Emergency safety equipment and trained crew on all vessels,
- Reliable weather alert systems accessible to all ferry operators.
As the monsoon season intensifies, they warn that more such tragedies may follow unless concrete action is taken.
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