Trawler Capsize in Bay: 3 more bodies found, death toll now 21

Three more bodies were recovered from the Bay of Bengal between Sunday and yesterday morning, taking the death toll in the February 11 trawler capsize to 21 now.

Coast Guard members recovered two bodies from the sea near St Martin's Island yesterday morning and the other was recovered on Sunday, said Lt Nayeem-ul-Haque, Coast Guard commander of St Martin's Island base.

"It has been confirmed that the three people were on board the trawler that capsized in the Bay," said Prodip Kumar Das, OC of Teknaf Police Station.

The Coast Guard on Friday and Saturday recovered three other bodies, said Lt Nayeem.

On February 11, a trawler carrying Rohingya refugees, who were trying to go to Malaysia illegally, capsized in the Bay around 5:45am near Zinjira point, some 8km northwest of St Martin's Island and drowning of at least 15 people were confirmed after the incident, said Lt Hayat Ibna Siddique, media officer of Bangladesh Coast Guard.

Afterwards, 72 people, including four boatmen, were rescued, while 50 others are feared missing.

Another trawler, which also capsized in the same area that day, is yet be traced.

At least 300 people started for Malaysia on the two trawlers from Monakhali area around 8:00pm on February 10.

So far, nine people including the four boatmen were arrested in a case filed in this connection with Teknaf Police Station.