A trawler which was carrying 50 to 60 passengers capsized in the River Mongla on Sunday morning.
Nishat Tamanna, upazila nirbahi officer, said that the overloaded trawler sank in the river in the morning amid inclement weather caused by cyclonic storm Remal.
Most of the passengers managed to swim ashore but a few remained missing.
River police, fire service and coast guard members were conducting rescue operations, she said.
As Cyclone Remal looms closer, the maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have been asked to hoist the great danger signal no 10 as cyclonic storm Remal over northwest Bay and adjoining area moved northwards and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm.
The maritime ports of Chattogram and Cox鈥檚 Bazar have been asked to hoist great danger signal no 9.
The cyclone can hit at any time between Sunday evening and midnight.
