Rajshahi boat capsize: bodies of university student, cousin recovered from Padma

Nine days after a boat capsized in Padma river, police recovered the bodies of university student Sadia Islam Suchona and her cousin Rimon from the river in Rajshahi, police said.

Suchona (22) , hailed from Rajshahi, was a third semester student of BBA at American International University-Bangladesh in Dhaka while her cousin Rimon (14) was a school student in Santahar of Bogura.

Local police with the help of fire service's divers recovered the bodies in Nabaganga area of the city between 7:45am and 8.30am, our Rajshahi staff correspondent reports, quoting Mehedi Hasan, officer-in-charge of Rajshahi River Police.

"The spot was very close to where the boat capsized," the OC said.

On September 25, a boat carrying 13 people, including Suchona and Rimon, capsized near the 'I' badh point in Nabaganga area of the river due to strong current.

The passengers were relatives, out for a river cruise on a small fishing boat, the OC said.

Eleven passengers managed to swim ashore or were rescued by the divers of fire service, he added.

Constable Shariful Islam of the river police filed a case with Damkura Police Station, accusing boatman Sumon and two owners of the boat -- Isa and Milon.

None of the accused were arrested so far as they went into hiding, police said.

Local police said small fishing boats are prohibited for river cruise in the Padma river. Also, the boatman and owners did not provide its passengers with life jackets, which is mandatory for river cruise.