The trawler named Lima Express started for Lengutia of Mehendiganj from Barisal at around 3:30pm. When it reached near the channel, a dredger hit it from behind. The trawler got twisted and capsized instantly.

The boatmen rescued most of the passengers. But some unidentified passengers, including women and children, remained missing.

Three of the missing passengers were identified as Shamim of Charmonai, Fatema and her mother Maleka. Search for the missing passengers is going on in the Kirtankhola river.

River police seized the dredger, but its master and employees could not be traced until the filing of this report at 7:44pm yesterday.

A rescue team comprising divers, led by a port officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authorities (BIWTA), was sent to the place of accident from Barisal.