A Bangladesh River Police speedboat sank while officers were chasing fishermen in the Meghna River near Sataki Launch Ghat in Shatnal, Matlab North, Chandpur. The vessel has since been recovered, but a police shotgun remains missing. No casualties have been reported, and a diving team has been deployed to search for the missing firearm.
The incident occurred near Sataki Launch Ghat in the Shatnal area of Matlab North Upazila. Details of the circumstances that led to the speedboat sinking remain unclear. Authorities have also yet to establish how the shotgun went missing during the operation.
Alamgir Hossain, in-charge of Chandpur Sadar River Police, confirmed the incident. He said the speedboat sank during an operation involving a chase after fishermen. Although no one was injured, a police shotgun could not be located following the incident.
Officers from Matlab North Police Station, Mohonpur River Police Outpost and Beltoli Police Outpost were present at the scene. They were monitoring the situation and following developments in the recovery operation.
Syed Mushfiqur Rahman, superintendent of police for the Chandpur River Police region, said the sunken speedboat had been recovered from the river. A team of divers was deployed to search for the missing shotgun, and efforts to locate the weapon were under way.
Meanwhile, the incident has raised questions among local residents about the jurisdiction and authorisation of Chandpur River Police operations in the river areas of Matlab North. Some residents have questioned whether the necessary permissions were obtained before the operation and whether adequate coordination was maintained among the relevant units.
Some local residents have also claimed that questions have arisen within the River Police over the matter. However, no official statement has been issued to clarify the concerns surrounding the operation’s authorisation or coordination.
The circumstances of the incident have prompted calls for a thorough investigation. Local residents want authorities to establish what happened during the chase, why the speedboat sank and how the shotgun went missing. They have also called for clarification on whether any coordination-related difficulties contributed to the incident.
The disappearance of a police firearm during an operation raises important security concerns. Recovering the weapon and determining the precise sequence of events are therefore key priorities for the authorities. Clarification of the operational procedures and coordination arrangements would also help address the questions raised by local residents.
As of the latest available information, the exact cause of the speedboat’s sinking and the whereabouts of the missing shotgun remain unknown. Search efforts are continuing, while further details are expected from the relevant authorities as the investigation and recovery operation progress.
