Ferry sinks in Padma

Staff Reporter :
A ferryman went missing as the utility ferry named Rajanigandha loaded with nine trucks capsized in the river Padma in Manikganj’s Paturia in early morning of Wednesday.

Shipping sources said the ferry, Rajanaigandha that operates on the Paturia-Daulatdia route, was anchored in the river due to dense fog near Paturia ferry terminal as it could not reach the shore.

The ferry sank in the river at about 8:15am, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

However, the second driver of the ferry, Humayun Kabir, 39, remained missing since the accident.

“At least 10 people have been rescued so far. Among them, four swam to ashore while the fire service rescued the other six,” Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Rehena Akter told the media.

Immediate after the accident, local sources said that the ferry sank due to pushing by a bulkhead.

Sources in the Department of Shipping (DoS), there are about 5,500 registered bulkheads operating across the country.

At least 50,000 unregistered bulkheads are also operating in the country illegally, sources said.

Meanwhile State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told the media that rescuer ship Rustam and Prattay are already on the way to salvage the ferry.

The Shipping Secretary is now in Manikganj and will instruct the officials concerned for taking measures regarding the incident, he added.

On the existing ferry fog lights, the State Minister said those are not powerful enough to see through the dense fog.

“Cases and investigations into the use of improper fog lights in ferries are currently ongoing,” he added.

Abdus Salam, the manager of BIWTC Daulatdia ghat, informed that fog began to set in on this river route from the night, disrupting ferry operations.

“Around 1:30am, the fog became denser, making it impossible to see the ferry route markers and beacon lights,” he added.

Hossain, a truck driver on the ferry, said that the ferry left Daulatdia ghat around 12:15am with nine trucks and was heading towards Paturia.

“Due to dense fog, the ferry anchored not far from Paturia terminal. The ferry sank around 8:15am as the water level rose inside the ferry,” he added.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said a diving team of the Bangladesh Navy joined the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, two separate probe committees were formed to investigate the ferry accident.