SUNAMGANJ: Twelve people drowned and an unspecified number of passengers went missing as an overcrowded mechanized boat sank in a haor in Dharmapasha upazila on Tuesday morning.

Dharmapasha UNO Babul Mia told banglanews24.com.bd that the ferryboat, carrying about 100 passengers, was caught in a strong wind and capsized in the midstream of the vast water body, leaving 12 dead--all women and girl children.

He said local people pulled up the bodies and rescued some passengers while many were still missing.

The dead include six schoolgirls, two women and four baby girls. Identity of the deceased could not be known yet.

Ferry capsize in the country is common during the monsoon due to lax
enforcement of rules.

BDST 1546 hrs, June 8, 2010
Corr/EH/LY/MUA