Police Member’s Body Found on Meghna Riverbank Two Days After Going Missing

Local correspondent

The body of missing police member Md. Saiful Islam (28) has been recovered two days after a trawler capsized in the Meghna River in Hatiya, Noakhali.

On June 2, Monday, around 5:15 PM, his body was retrieved from the bank of the Meghna near Darbesh Bazar in Chanandi Union of the upazila.

The deceased Saiful was the son of Md. Sirajul Islam from Charshahi village in Chandganj Police Station, Lakshmipur district. He was employed at Noakhali District Police Lines. Professionally, Saiful had been serving in various police stations across Noakhali for the past three years.

Locals reported that a floating body was spotted near the riverbank south of Darbesh Bazar in Chanandi Union, adjacent to a char (sandbar). After taking photos, they informed the police. Upon receiving the information, police members confirmed the identity. The incident has cast a shadow of grief over Saiful’s colleagues and family.

It was learned that around 2 PM, a trawler carrying 39 passengers, including four police members, a Rohingya patient, an Ansar member, and individuals from various NGOs, departed from Vashanchar towards Ali Bazar Ghat in Harni Union. During the journey, about 7-8 kilometers from Vashanchar, the trawler capsized in the Meghna River near Karim Bazar’s Dubarchar due to adverse weather conditions.

Hatiya Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) AKM Azmal Huda said the body washed ashore with the waves in the afternoon. It has been identified as Saiful’s body, which will be handed over to his family.

He stated that the trawler, carrying 39 passengers, sank. Among them, 35 were rescued alive. So far, three people have died in the incident. A Rohingya child named Tamim is still missing. The Coast Guard is currently conducting a search operation to recover the missing child.