The body of a labourer, Iman Mia, 29, has been recovered 21 hours after he went missing when a boat capsized in a haor in Austagram, Kishoreganj, where he had gone to harvest paddy.

A fire service diving team recovered his body from Nurpur haor in Adampur union at about 11am on 14 May.

Iman Mia was the son of Abul Hossain of Nurpur in Adampur union. He supported his family by working as a day labourer, harvesting paddy on other people's land.

According to local sources, four labourers went to Nurpur haor on the morning of 13 May to cut Boro paddy on the land of local farmer Zakaria. The weather was normal in the morning, but around midday the sky suddenly darkened and gusty winds, a storm and heavy rain began. The labourers stopped work and set off home by boat. On the way, their small boat capsized in rough waves and strong wind. The other three managed to swim ashore, but Iman Mia was swept away and could not be found.

Local people began a search after the accident, and a four-member team from Kishoreganj fire service, including two divers, then joined the rescue operation. A day-long search failed to find him, and his body was finally recovered from Nurpur haor at about 11am on 14 May.

Local people said Iman Mia came from a very poor family and had worked as a farm labourer from a young age to support the household. The whole family depended on his income, and his sudden death has left it in grief and uncertainty.

Mst Orona, a reserved-seat woman member of Adampur union parishad, said the labourers were returning home by boat in the storm and rain when strong wind capsized it. The others survived but Iman Mia went missing, and his body was recovered on 14 May.

Mohammad Rokonuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Austagram police station, said the missing labourer's body had been recovered. "The incident is very sad. The necessary legal steps are under way," he said.

Mofazzal Hossain, deputy assistant director of Kishoreganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said a four-member team including two divers went from Kishoreganj to the spot and carried out the operation to recover the missing labourer.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.