Tourist Missing After Boat Sinks in Bandarban’s Sangu River

A tourist went missing after a boat carrying visitors sank in the Sangu River in the remote Baro Pathar area of Tindu, locally known as Rajapathar, in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban on Friday afternoon.

The accident occurred at around 5pm on 24 July. As of noon on Saturday, 25 July, the missing tourist had not been found, despite continued efforts by local residents and others involved in the search operation.

The missing tourist has been identified as Jawad Ul Islam Mahian, reportedly a resident of Maskanda village in Mymensingh district.

According to local sources, a group of 13 tourists travelled to Tindu on Friday after descending from the Alikadam–Thanchi road near the 23-kilometre point. A local guide, Gorjon Tripura, joined the group after they reached Tindu Bazar.

Later in the afternoon, the tourists set out from Tindu Ghat towards Remakri in two boats. Six tourists were travelling in one boat, while the other carried seven.

The group was travelling through the Sangu River when the boat carrying six people reached the Tindu Baro Pathar, or Rajapathar, area. Amid the strong current, the boat reportedly lost control and capsized.

Five of the six people on board managed to swim to safety and reach the riverbank. However, Mahian was swept away by the current and has remained missing since the incident.

Local residents began searching for him immediately after the boat overturned. Other individuals involved in the rescue effort later joined the operation. The search has been complicated by the strong river current, the remote terrain and difficult conditions along the waterway.

The continued absence of any trace of Mahian by Saturday afternoon has caused growing concern among his fellow travellers and relatives. Local people and rescuers have been searching sections of the river in an effort to locate him.

J Wai Pru Marma, president of the Thanchi Tourist Guide Association, said the group had arrived in the Tindu area via the Alikadam–Thanchi road and had contacted a local guide. However, the tourists allegedly travelled towards Remakri without completing the registration and other required formalities prescribed by the Thanchi upazila administration.

As a result, the administration did not have advance information about the group. This also created difficulties in the immediate aftermath of the accident, particularly in establishing the identity and other details of the missing tourist.

Thanchi Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Abdullah-Al-Faisal said a tourist boat sank in the strong current near Tindu Baro Pathar at around 5pm on Friday, leaving one tourist missing. He said the search operation was continuing to locate the missing person.

The official also said the tourists had not completed the registration process and other required procedures with the upazila administration after arriving in Thanchi. Consequently, authorities were initially unable to identify the missing tourist. His identity was later established through information gathered from different sources.

Bandarban’s remote hill destinations attract visitors throughout the year, but travel conditions can become considerably more challenging during the monsoon. Increased rainfall raises water levels and strengthens currents in rivers and streams, including the Sangu, making boat journeys more hazardous in some stretches.

The latest incident has also highlighted the importance of following local travel procedures in remote tourist areas. Registration with the relevant authorities can help officials maintain accurate records of visiting groups and respond more quickly during emergencies. The use of experienced local guides and adherence to safety instructions during river journeys are also particularly important when water levels and currents are unpredictable.

The search for Mahian was still under way on Saturday afternoon. Local residents and those involved in the rescue operation continued to scour different parts of the river, while his companions and relatives awaited news of his whereabouts.