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At least 26 people were killed as a passenger speedboat sank on the river Padma after it was hit by a sand-carrying trawler in Madaripur's Shibchar Upazila on Monday morning.
An official of the Fire Service Media Cell confirmed the matter saying that the speedboat sank at around 7:30am.
The local fire units have so far recovered 26 dead bodies and rescued one alive, he said, adding that four others were rescued alive by local people.
Among the dead, three were children, one was female and 22 others were male.
Upon receiving the news, the rescue teams from Shibchar and Zajira Upazila Jajira fire stations rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation, he said.
It was not immediately clear how many persons went missing in the incident.
Rescue operations are underway. More skilled divers of the fire service have left Barisal to join the rescue operation, he said.
Shyamal Biswas, who is leading the rescue operation at the spot from the fire department, said local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), members of the local unit of Bangladesh Army, officers in charge of the local police station and naval police officers are now staying at the spot.
Five injured victims are now undergoing treatment at Royal Hospital at Panch Char under Shibchar Upazila.