One Tourist Missing After Tourist Boat Capsizes in Sangu River in Bandarban

PNN News Desk | Bandarban

A tourist remains missing after a boat carrying visitors capsized in the strong current of the Sangu River near the Tindu Boro Pathor (Raja Pathor) area of Thanchi Upazila in Bandarban.

Rescue efforts involving local residents, tourist guides, and government authorities have been ongoing since the accident. However, as of Saturday afternoon (July 25), the missing tourist had not yet been found.

The missing individual has been identified as Jawad Ul Islam Mahian, a resident of the Maskanda area in Mymensingh District, according to local sources.

Authorities said a 13-member tourist group traveled via the Alikadam–Thanchi road and arrived at Tindu Bazar on Friday afternoon. After contacting local guide Garjen Tripura, the group departed for Remakri in two boats later that day. One boat carried six passengers, while the other transported seven.

While passing through the Tindu Boro Pathor area, one of the boats carrying six passengers lost control in the powerful river current and capsized.

Five of the passengers managed to swim ashore safely, but Jawad Ul Islam Mahian was swept away by the strong current and has remained missing since then.

Local residents immediately launched a rescue operation following the accident. Tourist guides and representatives from the local administration later joined the search effort. Despite continuous operations, no trace of the missing tourist had been found at the time of filing this report.

J.Y. Pru Marma, President of the Thanchi Tourist Guides Association, said the tourist group had contacted a local guide but proceeded toward Remakri without completing the mandatory registration and administrative formalities required by the upazila administration.

As a result, authorities did not possess complete information about the visitors, creating additional challenges during the rescue operation.

Thanchi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Abdullah-Al-Faisal confirmed that one tourist went missing after the boat capsized due to the unusually strong current in the Sangu River.

He said all possible efforts are being made to locate the missing person and urged travelers to complete the required registration process and strictly follow safety guidelines before visiting remote tourist destinations.

Local residents also stressed that the Sangu River experiences exceptionally strong currents during the monsoon season, making river travel considerably more dangerous. They emphasized that tourists should comply with official safety regulations and administrative procedures before undertaking trips to remote areas.