Daulatdia bus sinking: 24 bodies recovered, probe committee formed

A total of 24 bodies have been recovered as of 10:00 am today following the bus sinking incident in the Padma River at Daulatdia Ghat in Goalanda, Rajbari. Among them, 21 bodies have been handed over to family members. The bodies of three individuals, including the driver, have been kept at Rajbari Sadar Hospital.

Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md Hafizur Rahman of the Rajbari Deputy Commissioner's office confirmed the information to the media.

On Wednesday afternoon, around 5:15 pm, a passenger bus of Sauharda Paribahan, which was heading to Dhaka, lost control at Daulatdia's No. 3 ghat and fell into the Padma River from the pontoon. The bus had set off from Kumarkhali in Kushtia for Dhaka. According to passengers and counter staff, the bus was carrying around 45 people.

The 24 bodies recovered so far are: Rehena Akhter and her son Ahnan Tahmid Khan from Lalmia Road Bhabanipur area of Rajbari municipality; Marjina Khatun from Majampur village, Ward No. 18 of Kushtia municipality; Rajib Biswas from Khagrabaria village in Kushtia Sadar upazila; Johura Anti from Sajjonkanda village, Ward No. 5 of Rajbari municipality; Kazi Saif from the same area; Marjina Akhter and her daughter Safia Akhter Rinthi from Char Barkipara village, Chhotobhakla union, Goalanda upazila, Rajbari; Israfil, the infant child of Delwar Hossain from Dhusundu village, Khoksa upazila, Kushtia; Faiz Shahanur, child of Billal Hossain from Bhabanipur village, Boalia union, Kalukhali upazila, Rajbari; Tajbid, child of KBM Musabbir from Sajjonkanda area, Rajbari municipality; Arman Khan, a driver from West Khalkhola village, Baliakandi upazila, Rajbari; Nazmira alias Jesmin from Belgachi village, Mahendrapur union, Kalukhali upazila, Rajbari; Lima Akhter from Ramchandrapur village, Mizanpur union, Rajbari Sadar upazila; Jotsna from Char Beninagar village, the same union; Mukta Khanam from Noadha village, Amtali union, Kotalipara, Gopalganj; Nachima from Mathuarai village, Palashbari union, Parbatipur upazila, Dinajpur; Ayesha Akhter from Bagdhunia Palpara village, Ashulia upazila, Dhaka; Soha Akhter, child of Sohel Mollah from Rajbari municipality; Ayesha Siddika, child of Gias Uddin from Somaspur union, Khoksa upazila, Kushtia; Arman, child of Nuruzzaman from Khondokbaria village, Kacherkol union, Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah; Abdur Rahman, child of Abdul Aziz from Mahendrapur village, Ratondia union, Kalukhali upazila, Rajbari; Sabit Hasan (8), child of Shariful Islam from Agamarai village, Dadshi union, Rajbari Sadar upazila; and a fruit trader named Ujjal.

Meanwhile, a five-member high-level investigation committee was formed late last night by the Rajbari district administration to probe the bus accident. The Additional District Magistrate has been made the convener. The other members of the committee are the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) of Rajbari, the Assistant General Manager of BIWTC Daulatdia office, the Deputy Assistant Director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence, and the Executive Officer (UNO) of Goalanda upazila. The committee has been asked to submit its investigation report to the District Commissioner within three working days. The district administration will provide an initial Tk 25,000 to each family of the deceased.