Bangladesh Tragedy: 24 Dead After Passenger Bus Plunges into River

A devastating transport tragedy has struck Bangladesh after a passenger bus carrying dozens of people plunged into a river while attempting to board a ferry, leaving at least 24 people dead, including women and children.

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The fatal incident occurred at a ferry terminal in Padma River, one of the country’s major waterways.

According to officials, the bus carrying about 40 passengers lost control while approaching or boarding the ferry at Daulatdia in Rajbari district, roughly 100 kilometers from Dhaka.

The vehicle overturned and plunged into the river, sinking approximately 30 feet (9 meters) underwater.

Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as the bus suddenly slipped off the ferry edge and disappeared into the water within seconds, leaving passengers trapped inside.

Rescue authorities confirmed that:

• 24 people have been confirmed dead
• Victims include men, women, and children
• Some passengers initially rescued later died in hospital

Rescue teams recovered 22 bodies from inside the submerged bus, while additional victims succumbed after being pulled from the water.

A large-scale emergency response was launched immediately after the crash, involving:

• Fire Service and Civil Defence
• Army and Police
• Coast Guard units
• Local divers and volunteers

Rescue efforts were significantly hampered by:

• Strong river currents
• Poor underwater visibility
• Heavy rainfall conditions

Divers worked for hours to locate and retrieve victims, while a rescue vessel was eventually deployed to lift the submerged bus from the riverbed.

Some passengers managed to escape by swimming to safety, but many others were trapped inside the vehicle as it sank rapidly.

Survivors described panic and chaos, with people screaming for help as bystanders attempted to rescue victims using improvised methods such as ropes and clothing.

Possible Cause of the Crash

Preliminary findings suggest:

• The driver may have lost control while approaching the ferry ramp
• The bus may have slipped or tilted off the ferry platform
• Overcrowding and poor loading conditions could have contributed
• Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause.

A Recurring Transport Safety Problem

Road and ferry accidents remain a major safety concern in Bangladesh, where:

• Poor vehicle maintenance
• Weak enforcement
• Congested ferry terminals
• Risky driver behavior
• continue to contribute to deadly incidents.

According to transport safety data, hundreds of people die annually in road and ferry-related crashes across the country.

RoadKing.ng Safety Insight

This tragedy exposes a critical but often overlooked risk: multi-modal transport failure, where road vehicles transition onto ferries.

Key safety gaps include:

• Lack of secure ferry loading systems
• Poor vehicle control on ramps
• Absence of strict boarding protocols
• Inadequate emergency preparedness

For developing transport systems, ferry terminals must be treated as high-risk zones, not routine transit points.