简体中文
Forty one persons, including nine children, drowned and several others were still missing in a ferry accident in the river Padma in western Manikganj on Sunday, officials confirmed.
But unofficial sources and private television channel NTV said 48 bodies were recovered so far from the ferry accident.
The ferry carrying around 150 people was found sank after it was hit by a cargo ship in the river Padma. The rest of the passengers swam to safety.
District chief executive officer Rasheda Ferdousy, when contacted by cell phone, told Xinhua that the rescuers so far recovered 41 bodies, including nine children. She said the rescuers were still searching for the missing men.
The deputy commissioner said 19 bodies had so far been handed over to their families. She said Taka 20 thousand had been given to families of each death person as grant for burial.
Mrs Rasheda said three employees, including the cargo master, were arrested for hitting the passenger ferry. She said that the ferry could not be lifted yet. The rescue ship Rostom is on the way to the accident spot to lift the sunken ferry.
A five-member committee has been formed to inquire the accident and submit a report within a week. Bangladeshi president Abdul Hamid, Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia have expressed their shock for the death of so many people and condoled the deaths.
Shipping minister Shahjahan Khan visited the scene of the accident.
Ferry accidents in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed by around 250 rivers, claim hundreds of people every year as accidents occur in the country very often.
A few months ago another ferry sank in the river Padma carrying around 200 people after it was caught in rough weather. The ferry could not be lifted due to inclement weather, around 50 bodies were recovered by rescuers. Enditem
