A Chinese engineer working in the Padma bridge project went missing from Lauhajang upazila of Munshiganj last night.

It is suspected that Jha (38), who joined the project six months back, fell into the Padma river from a barge, reports our Munshiganj correspondent. 

Jha was last seen on an under-construction barge set up in the Padma river around 8:00pm yesterday, Project Director Shafiqul Islam confirmed today.

Divers from fire service and coast guard, river police and army personnel working in the security team of the project have been conducting rescue operation but there was no trace of him till 2:00pm today.

An engineer of the project, seeking anonymity, said Jha was working on the barge in the night shift and he was last seen by the railing.

Many other local and foreign engineers were also working there but none of them could confirm whether Jha fell into the river.  

Dewan Azad, station officer of Srinagar Fire Service, said a team of six divers from Dhaka joined the rescue operation at 5:00am.

Md Fakhrul, an officer of Mawa Coast Guard Station, said four of their divers are participating in the drive.

Sirajul Kabir, in-charge of Mawa river police, said they came to know about the incident from National Emergency Service 999.

They rushed to the spot and started the rescue operation around 9:00pm, he said.