Fatal Ferry Tragedy in Bangladesh: Death Toll Rises to 26 After Bus Plunges into Padma River

A devastating accident at Daulatdia ferry terminal in central Bangladesh has claimed at least 26 lives after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River while boarding a ferry, authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 5:15 PM local time, when a bus operated by “Souharda Paribahan” lost control while attempting to board a ferry at Pontoon No. 3 of the busy Daulatdia ghat. The vehicle, reportedly carrying between 40 and 55 passengers, fell into the river within moments, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.

Emergency teams, including fire service divers and river rescue units, responded swiftly. After nearly six hours of search efforts, the sunken bus was recovered at around 11:30 PM using a crane from the salvage vessel Hamza. By Thursday morning, 23 bodies had been retrieved. Later, divers recovered three more victims, bringing the total death toll to 26.Officials stated that the victims include 11 women, 7 men, and 8 children, highlighting the scale of the tragedy. A small number of passengers—estimated between five and seven—managed to swim ashore and survive.Shipping State Minister Mohammad Rajib Ahsan visited the scene late Wednesday night and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted. Two separate inquiry committees have been formed—one led by the Rajbari district administration and another headed by an additional secretary from the Ministry of Shipping. Both committees have been instructed to submit their findings within three working days.

Authorities have begun handing over the bodies to grieving families, with most victims already identified. The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, leaving communities in mourning.

Preliminary assumptions suggest possible mechanical failure, human error, or inadequate safety measures at the terminal, though officials emphasized that the exact cause will be determined after the investigation.

This tragic incident once again raises serious concerns over ferry safety standards and passenger transport management in one of Bangladesh’s busiest river crossings.