Pabna, Apr 05 (V7N)– A vacation outing turned tragic in Sujanagar, Pabna, as a husband and wife drowned after the boat they were traveling in on the Padma River capsized.

"A husband and wife died after their boat capsized while traveling on the Padma River in Sujanagar, Pabna," a local police official confirmed.

The bodies of the couple, who had been missing for approximately 16 hours after the incident, were recovered by naval police and a diving team at around 10 AM local time on Saturday. The boat capsized at approximately 6 PM on Friday.

"Their bodies were recovered by the naval police and a diving team at 10 am on Saturday (April 5), 16 hours after they went missing after the boat capsized. Earlier, the boat capsized around 6 pm on Friday (April 4)," Sujanagar Fire Service Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim stated.

The deceased have been identified as 23-year-old Hridoy Pramanik, a resident of Kolchari village in Pabna Sadar upazila, and his 19-year-old wife, Mau Akter.

"The deceased were identified as Hridoy Pramanik (23), son of Dulal Pramanik of Kolchari village in Pabna Sadar upazila, and his wife Mau Akter (19)," confirmed Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim.

According to police and local witnesses, a group of 20 to 25 people, including the couple, had visited the Padma River area at Kanchan Park in Satbaria of Sujanagar Upazila for leisure. They boarded a small, engine-powered boat which subsequently sank in the strong currents of the Padma River in the middle of the waterway. While most of the passengers managed to swim to safety with the assistance of locals, the young couple went missing.

"Police and locals said that on Friday afternoon, numerous people from different areas went to visit the Padma River area at Kanchan Park in Satbaria of Sujanagar Upazila. At one stage, 20 to 25 people including them boarded a shallow engine-powered boat. While they were in the boat, the boat suddenly sank in the current of the Padma River in the middle of the river. Although everyone was able to cross the river with the help of locals, the husband and wife went missing," a local eyewitness recounted.

A rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident by the Sujanagar Fire Service, a diving team from Rajshahi, and members of the Nazirganj Naval Police Outpost. The search efforts continued overnight and yielded results on Saturday morning.

"Sujanagar Fire Service Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim said, 'Upon receiving the information, Sujanagar Fire Service, a diving team from Rajshahi and members of the Nazirganj Naval Police Outpost started a rescue operation. They were not found yesterday, Friday. The rescue operation started again on Saturday morning. Their bodies were recovered around 10 am,'" Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim confirmed.

The tragic incident underscores the potential dangers of river travel, especially with strong currents. Local authorities are likely to investigate the circumstances surrounding the boat sinking.

END/SRP/RH/