Four Rohingyas, among three children, drowned as after a boat capsized in the Meghna River near Noakhali`s Hatiya upazila while en route to Bhasan Char on Saturday.

However, 19 others were rescued by Coast Guard members, Naval Police, and Fire Service.

Bhasan Char Police Station officer-in-charge Abu Jafar confirmed the matter.

The deceased were identified as Laila Begum, 45, wife of Dil Mohammad from Cluster 85 of Bhasan Char; Abdul Kader, 4, son of Mohammad Abdullah from Cluster 84; Azizul Haque, 5, son of Mohammad Jahar from Cluster 80; and Asmida Begum, 4, daughter of Mohammad Rashid from Cluster 8.
The boat was en route to Hatiya`s Bhasan Char from the Chattogram Fishery Ghat, carrying goods like rice and pulses along with passengers.

The boat`s operator, Md. Humayun, said that they were heading towards Bhasan Char area from Chattogram Fishery Ghat at around 8:00am with goods and 23 passengers. However, at around 11:00 am, as the boat approached Hatiya`s boundary in the Meghna River, it was caught in a sudden storm and capsized.

Upon receiving the news, nearby boats rushed to rescue the passengers, followed by a rapid response from the Naval Police and Coast Guard, who rescued other passengers unharmed, said the OC.

The recovered bodies have been taken to Bhasan Char Police Station, he added.