More than 30 people are feared dead after a boat capsized in north-eastern Bangladesh, officials say.
They say the boat sank after hitting a cargo vessel in the Surma River at Alipur, some 240km (149 miles) north-east of the capital, Dhaka.
As many as 50 people - mostly labourers - are said to have been on board the vessel. Most of the victims were reportedly women and children.
Rescuers have been sent to the remote area to look for survivors.
The boat sank after colliding with a much heavier trawler in darkness.
Local media reports suggested that many of the passengers managed to swim to safety, but this has not been confirmed by officials.
"We have already sent advance teams but it's a remote area, so it will take hours for them to reach the spot," Abul Hashem, a senior government official in Sunamganj district, told the BBC.
Boat accidents are common in the south Asian country due to overloading and lax safety standards.
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-12029183
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