Dhaka: Two days after a boat capsized in the Padma River in Rajshahi, the bodies of father Kawsar Ali, 60, and son Ziarul Islam, 30, surfaced in the water. Fire Service personnel recovered the two bodies this afternoon and handed them over to the family. The bodies were later buried.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the tragic incident occurred last Tuesday afternoon when Kawsar Ali's shallow engine-driven boat sank near the Barakuthi area of Rajshahi city. He was returning home after cutting casuarina trees from the char (river island). The boat carried six other passengers, including Kawsar Ali's wife, Zahera Begum. After the boat sank, all passengers attempted to swim ashore, and another boat came to their rescue.
The family, residing in the Shyampur Balughat area on the bank of the Padma River under Katakhali Police Station in Rajshahi, relied on cutting casuarina trees and straw from the river char for their livelihood. Following the capsize, Kawsar and his son Ziarul were missing, while Zahera managed to swim back to safety.
Their relatives reported that on Thursday morning, Kawsar Ali's body floated to the Padma River's surface in the Banglabazar area of Daulatpur Upazila in Kushtia. Locals informed them of the discovery. Later that noon, Ziarul's body was found a short distance away in the Talaimari area of Rajshahi. Fire Service personnel retrieved the bodies, leading to their eventual burial.
Sumon Kaderi, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Katakhali Police Station, confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed at his police station on Thursday concerning the incident.