17 people dead as boat sinks in Bangladeshi wetland

At least 17 travellers were killed and one missing after a boat capsized in a wetland in Bangladesh's Netrokona district, some 158 km north of the capital Dhaka on Wednesday, reported Xinhua, quoting a senior police official said.

"The bodies of 17 travellers have already been recovered," AKM Monirul Islam, the district's additional police chief, told Xinhua over mobile phone.

The boat capsized in inclement weather at around noon on Wednesday, he added.

According to the official, the boat was carrying 48 travellers. "Thirty travellers managed to swim ashore after the boat capsized," he said.

Search and rescue efforts were underway by the Fire Service and Civil Defence and other authorities to find the only missing person, Islam added.