Daulatdia bus sinking: 23 bodies recovered

The Fire Service has recovered 23 bodies from the passenger bus that plunged into the Padma River and sank at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat.

The sunken bus was retrieved and brought to the surface by the rescue vessel Hamza around 12:30 am on Thursday, March 26. Up until the bus was raised on Wednesday, 16 bodies had been recovered. Between midnight and 8:00 am, seven more bodies were recovered. The 23 bodies have been handed over to their families.

Md Monir Hossain, Ghat Supervisor of Transport at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat, said, "Shortly after 5:00 pm, the Sauharda Paribahan passenger bus arrived at Daulatdia's No. 3 ghat. At that time, a ferry at the ghat had just departed for Paturia in Manikganj with vehicles. The bus missed boarding it by a narrow margin and was waiting for another ferry. Around 5:15 pm, a utility (small) ferry named 'Hasna Hena' struck the pontoon with force at that ghat. The bus lost control due to the impact of the ferry and fell into the Padma River."

Meanwhile, district police, army, naval police and the Fire Service are working to manage the situation. The Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Goalanda Upazila Executive Officer and other administration officials are present at the scene.