Karatoa boat capsize: Missing child’s body found after 1.5 months

The body of a child, who went missing after an overcrowded boat capsized in the Karatoa river in Boda upazila of Panchagarh on September 25, was recovered from the river yesterday (November 11, 2022) at the Aulia Ghat area, one-and-a-half month after the tragedy.

The deceased was identified as Joya Rani (4), daughter of Dhirendranath of Ghatiarpara area of Panchagarh, our Thakurgaon correspondent reports quoting Sujoy Kumar Roy, officer-in-charge of Boda Police Station.

So far, 71 bodies have been recovered in this tragic incident while one more person is still missing, the OC added.

Police said a group of workers was picking up stones near Aulia Ghat last noon. At one point, a strong stench started coming from the stone pit. At that time, while removing the sand, Jaya's partially decomposed body was found.

On information, the relatives of the missing people rushed to the spot and identified her by looking at the clothes, informed the OC.

Later, the body was handed over to her family in the presence of local public representatives.

Earlier on Wednesday, the body of Bhupendranath Roy was recovered from the same area. He was crossing the river with his wife Rupali Rani, who also died in the incident, with their three-year-old son Dipu on September 25 to attend Mahalaya festivities.

On September 25, an engine boat carrying mostly Hindu devotees, heading towards Badheshwar Temple on the occasion of Mahalaya, sank near Aulia Ghat under Mareya union of Boda upazila in Panchagarh.