A fishing trawler sank in the Meghna River in Hatiya Upazila, Noakhali, after being struck by a bulkhead, resulting in the death of a teenage fisherman, Sakib Uddin (17). Another young fisherman, Arafat, remains missing. The trawler’s captain, Afshar, and another fisherman, Rahman, were injured and are receiving treatment in a hospital.The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday (July 28) in the Meghna River, flowing along the western side of Sukhchar Union in Hatiya Upazila. The deceased, Sakib, was the son of Monir Uddin from Shullukia village in Charking Union. The missing fisherman, Arafat, is the son of Delowar Hossain from Ward No. 8 of Sukhchar Union.
According to local fishermen, the trawler was anchored in the river after completing its fishing activities. The four fishermen on board were asleep when, around 3:00 AM, a bulkhead coming from the south collided with the trawler, causing it to capsize instantly. Hearing screams, fishermen from nearby trawlers rushed to the scene and rescued Afshar and Rahman in an injured state. Approximately an hour later, Sakib’s body was recovered, but Arafat remains missing.
Eyewitness fisherman Jamshed said, “The screams woke us up in the middle of the night. We rushed to the scene and found the trawler had sunk. We managed to rescue two people, but the bulkhead fled north, taking advantage of the darkness, making it impossible to identify.”
Ashish Chandra Saha, in-charge of Nalchira Naval Police Outpost, stated that a team was dispatched to the site upon receiving the news. However, heavy rainfall and challenging communication systems caused delays in reaching the location. Legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received from the deceased’s family.
Local fishermen have complained that the lack of specific regulations for bulkhead navigation in the river frequently leads to such accidents. They have demanded controlled navigation schedules and the mandatory use of adequate lighting for bulkheads.
