At least 26 persons have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River near Daulatdia in Rajbari district of central Bangladesh, about 84 kilometres from the capital, Dhaka.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when the bus, reportedly carrying about 40 passengers, lost control while approaching a ferry terminal and fell into the river, sinking nearly nine metres underwater and making rescue efforts extremely difficult.
Fire service official Talha Bin Qasim confirmed that 22 bodies were initially recovered from inside the submerged vehicle, including five children, 11 women and six men. Two more women later died after being rescued, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to 26, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Eyewitness Noor Jahan Begum, 35, said the bus was waiting to board a ferry when it suddenly fell into the river, trapping many passengers inside. She explained that while some passengers managed to escape, several others, including family members of survivors, remained trapped in the submerged vehicle.
Bystanders immediately joined rescue efforts, throwing long scarves and improvised ropes into the river to help passengers swim to safety. Emergency responders later deployed four fire service units and 10 divers to the scene, with support from the army, police, coastguard and local authorities.
Officials said some passengers may still be missing as rescue teams continued search operations in the river.
Road and ferry accidents are frequent in Bangladesh, where poorly maintained vehicles, unsafe roads and reckless driving contribute to hundreds of deaths annually. During the recently concluded Eid holidays alone, Bangladesh’s Road Safety Foundation reported more than 200 fatalities from road accidents.
In a separate incident, a train also collided with a bus, killing 12 people, further highlighting growing safety concerns in the country’s transportation system.
The latest accident has again raised concerns over transport safety in Bangladesh, as families and communities continue to grapple with recurring tragedies linked to road and ferry operations.
— Chronicles Reporters