Bangladesh
Padma Ferry Accident 1 killed as two ferries collide in Padma
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, June 20: One person was killed and at least 10 others were injured in a collision between two ferries in the middle Padma river on the Shimulia-Majhikandi route in Munshiganj.
Two ferries named Begum Rokeya and Sufia Kamal collided with each other at around 3 am on Saturday. Several vehicles in the ferries were damaged in the collision. The deceased was identified as Md. Khokon, who was a pickup van driver from Jhalokati district.
Ahmed Ali, a Marine Engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation-BIWTC, confirmed the information and said that a ferry carrying passengers and vehicles was going from Shimulia Ghat to Majhikandi. At that time another ferry was going to Shimulia from Majhikandi Ghat. The two ferries collided head-on at the Padma's turning point. There were casualties. However, after the accident, the ferry reached the two destinations and unloaded the vehicles and passengers.
Meanwhile, due to strong currents in the Padma river, the ferry service was declared closed at Satbar Madbar Mangalmajhir Ghat in Shariatpur and Shimulia waterway in Munshiganj. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) on Sunday night announced the closure of ferry services on the waterway. After being closed for seven hours, the ferry service resumed.
At around 10 pm on Sunday (June 19), BIWTC Shimulia Ghat Manager (Commerce) Faisal Ahmed said that due to strong currents in the Padma, the ferry service on the Sattar Madbar Mangalmajhi-Munshiganj Shimulia waterway in Shariatpur was suspended.
Meanwhile, several districts of the country, including Sylhet and the northern region, were hit by floods. In the last 24 hours, water is flowing 4 cm above the danger level at Naria Sureshwar Padma river point in Shariatpur. As a result, the water level of Kirtinasha, Jayanti and Arialkhan rivers in the district have increased. Water has started entering the lower parts of the district. The gauge reader (water meter) of the district water development board has confirmed the matter.
