A Munshiganj- bound passenger launch capsized in the river Shitalakhya on Sunday evening under Narayanganj Sadar police station in the district.
The accident happened when the launch was hit by a lighter ship around 6pm.
According to the river police officer- in- charge Shahidul Islam a ,lighter ship named SK-3 hit the passenger launch Habib Al Hasan in Koilaghat area and the launchsank.
Some passengers were able to swim ashore while the majority of them are missing.
Divers of Narayanganj BIWTA and Fire Brigade and civil defense are trying to recover the missing passengers.
The salvage ship Rostom or Hamza has not yet reached the spot to salvage the sunken launch.
Ali Akbar,who survived the tragedy, said that they were going to Munshiganj from Narayanganj by a double Decker launch but a lighter ship coming from the opposite direction hit the launch which then sank.
Due to the storm the divers could not conduct their rescue operation, police said.
Four people were killed at different areas of Gaibandha district as trees fell on them during a Nor'wester Sunday. Of them, two persons were killed in one person was killed in Palashbari upazila, one in Sundarganj and one in Fulchari upazila of the district.
Gaibandha Deputy Commissioner Abdul Matin confirmed it to media.
"Around 4pm today (Sunday), a sudden gust of wind started. After that many trees were uprooted in different areas which led to the deaths and some people were also injured," the DC said local journalists.
"In addition to loss of lives, crops were also damaged in the storm. The families of the victims have been given Tk 10,000 each by the district administration," the DC said.
"Upazila Nirbahi officials have been instructed to report the amount of damage in each upazila, said DC Abdul Matin.
Electricity connections have been cut off in many places so far.
