The body of a fisherman who went missing in the Meghna River during a sudden Kalboishakhi storm has been recovered in Mehendiganj, Barishal. The deceased, identified as Shipon Maltha (20), was found floating in the river on Tuesday morning (5 May) in the Baherchar area under Hizla Upazila.
Shipon Maltha was the son of Alam Maltha from Ward No. 7 of Char Ekkoria Union in Mehendiganj Upazila. Another fisherman, Jewel Sardar (21), who was also reported missing following the same incident, has not yet been located despite ongoing search efforts.
According to the officer-in-charge of the Hizla Naval Police outpost, Gautam Chandra Mondol, the incident occurred on the afternoon of 2 May near the Dadpur Old Ferry Ghat area in the Meghna River. A sudden and severe Kalboishakhi storm caused the fishing boat carrying the two fishermen to capsize, leading to their disappearance in the river.
Following the incident, local administration and fishermen jointly conducted extensive search operations in the river. However, neither of the missing individuals could be found during the initial search period.
On Tuesday morning, local fishermen noticed a body floating in the river near Baherchar and immediately informed the naval police. With the assistance of local residents, police recovered the body from the river. After completing the required inquest procedures, the body of Shipon Maltha was handed over to his family.
Search operations for the remaining missing fisherman, Jewel Sardar, are still ongoing.
Summary of Incident
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of recovered victim | Shipon Maltha |
| Age | 20 years |
| Father’s name | Alam Maltha |
| Address | Ward No. 7, Char Ekkoria Union, Mehendiganj |
| Missing person | Jewel Sardar (21) |
| Date of incident | 2 May |
| Location of boat capsize | Dadpur Old Ferry Ghat, Meghna River |
| Cause | Sudden Kalboishakhi storm |
| Recovery date | 5 May (Tuesday morning) |
| Recovery location | Baherchar area, Hizla Upazila |
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2 May | Fishing boat capsized in Meghna River due to Kalboishakhi storm; two fishermen went missing |
| 2–4 May | Joint search operations conducted by local administration and fishermen |
| 5 May (Morning) | Body of Shipon Maltha recovered from Meghna River |
| 5 May | Body handed over to family after legal procedures; search continues for second missing fisherman |
Authorities have reiterated that search operations will continue in coordination with local fishermen and river patrol units until the second missing individual is found. The incident has highlighted once again the risks faced by riverine fishermen during sudden adverse weather conditions in the Meghna basin.