Bangladesh
Ferry Accident Ferry loaded with vehicles capsizes in Padma river in Paturia
Dhaka, Jan 17: A ferry named Rajnigandha loaded with vehicles capsized in Padma river on Paturia-Daulatdia route early Wednesday (Jan 17). The incident took place around 8:30 am near Ghat No. 5 of Paturia.
After the accident, four people managed to swim to the bank while six others were rescued later alive. The ferry's second driver, Humayun Kabir, is still missing. Rescue operations are being carried out by fire service and navy divers.
DGM of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha office, Khalid Mahmud, said the ferry capsized after being hit by a bulkhead.
He said that the Rajnigandha ferry left Daulatdia Ghat with nine vehicles for Paturia Ghat around 1 am on Tuesday. When the fog thickens, the ferry was anchored in the middle of the river. It left for Paturia Ghat around 8 am. The ferry capsized due to the impact of a bulkhead when it came near ghat number 5 of Paturia.
He added that there were seven small trucks and two big trucks on the ferry.
Photo: Collected
The official said that BIWTA's rescue ships Hamza and Rustam have left to rescue the capsized ferry. BIWTC Chairman Commodore Arif Ahmed Mostafa and senior officials have left to supervise rescue operations.
District Commissioner Rehana Akhter said that a five-member investigation committee headed by Manikganj Additional District Magistrate Sanjida Jasmine has been formed to probe this incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within the next five working days.
State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, told reporters at the secretariat after 10 am that without an investigation report, it is not possible to confirm the exact cause behind the ferry accident in the middle of Padma river in Manikganj's Paturia on Paturia-Daulatdia route.
He said, "Initially I have been told that the ferry was anchored there, and was hit by a bulkhead. I can't say at the moment which is true. Without the investigation report it is impossible to say which is true. Is there any other weakness or other incident or not? I can't say now."
