The 16-year-old was travelling with his parents and younger brother when their boat capsized near the Bakkhali River estuary yesterday.
Four New Zealand nationals. Photo: Courtesy
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Four New Zealand nationals. Photo: Courtesy
A 16-year-old New Zealand national remains missing today (26 August), a day after a boat carrying his family capsized in the sea near Nazirartek in Cox’s Bazar.
The teenager, identified as Albert, was travelling with his parents and younger brother on a homemade boat when it capsized near the Bakkhali River estuary around 9:30am yesterday (25 August).
Local fishermen rescued his father, John Edward, 74, mother Bela, 36, and younger brother Ralph, 13. The three were later handed over to the Coast Guard’s Cox’s Bazar station.
“Search operations are still underway in different areas of the sea, but the teenager has not yet been found,” Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station, told The Business Standard today.
The Coast Guard and Fire Service diving teams, along with the Bangladesh Navy vessel BNS Shapla and speedboats, are participating in the search operation. The operation was still underway around 2:45pm today.
According to officials, the family had travelled to Cox’s Bazar with their own boat and had previously faced another incident at sea.
On 8 April, they were reportedly attacked by pirates near the Kutubjom coast in Maheshkhali upazila. They had remained under Coast Guard custody since the incident, officials said.
The four family members were travelling near Nazirartek when their boat overturned amid strong waves and sank.
Local fishermen managed to rescue three of them, while Albert was swept away.
The three rescued family members are currently in police custody, the OC said.
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