Ferry accident on Dhaleshwari river: 3 bodies recovered

Three people were killed after five vehicles fell into the Dhaleshwari River from a ferry in Narayanganj on Saturday (December 20).

Divers recovered two bodies from the river about four and a half hours after they went missing, while another victim died on the way to hospital after being rescued.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Circle-A) MdHasinuzzaman confirmed the incident.

The deceased were identified as Singapore expatriate Masud Rana (30), motorcyclist Md Rafiq (35), and van driver Shadhin (25).

Rafiq was rescued immediately after the accident and taken to Narayanganj General Hospital. He later died while being transferred to a private hospital in the Signboard area for advanced treatment.

After an extensive search, divers recovered the bodies of Masud Rana and Shadhin. Masud’s body was severely mutilated after becoming trapped in the ferry’s propeller.

Masud Rana, son of Ataur Sardar of Gopalnagar in Baktabali Union, had returned from Singapore about a month ago. He was undergoing driving training in Narayanganj as part of preparations to go abroad again and met with the accident while returning home after a training session.

Inspector Md Rakibuzzaman, in-charge of the Baktabali Naval Police Outpost, said the ferry was travelling from the eastern ghat of Baktabali to the western ghat with vehicles and passengers on board. While in mid-river, a truck on the ferry suddenly moved forward and rammed into a motorcycle, two battery-powered auto-rickshaws, and a van, causing all five vehicles to plunge into the river.

Naval police suspect the truck was left in gear while boarding the ferry. When it suddenly lurched forward, the driver lost control. The truck driver fled the scene before police arrived. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest him, police said.