Rescuers have pulled at least 70 bodies out of the Padma after a ferry carrying about a hundred passengers capsized on Sunday afternoon.
Salvage ferry Rustam starting its rescue operation at about 12:00am on Monday. Several bodies were found inside the capsized ferry as Rustam recovered ferry around 3:50am.
Paturia ferry terminal traffic inspector Anwar Hossain told NTV Online that a fertiliser-laden cargo vessel, Nargis 1’ hit the ferry, Motorised Vehicle Mostofa, while it was crossing the river. It was heading towards Daulatdia from Paturia. The site is 25 miles northwest of the capital.

Local people rescued 30-40 of the passengers while some others managed to swim ashore.

Manikganj Additional Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman said the cargo vessel’s master and his two associates were held after the accident.

A salvage vessel was on its way to the spot for joining the rescue operation, said the official.

Police arrested three crew of the cargo vessel—Shahidul Islam, Shahinur Rahman and Jahurul Islam—in this connection. The master of the vessel, Iqbal Hossain, went into hiding.

Meanwhile, the local administration opened a control room at Paturia ferry terminal.

The Padma is one of the largest rivers in this delta nation, which is crisscrossed by more than 130 rivers.

Overcrowding and poor safety standards are often blamed for ferry disasters in the impoverished South Asian nation.

Last August, a ferry with a capacity of 85 passengers was found to be carrying more than 200 when it capsized also on the Padma near Dhaka, leaving with more than 100 people dead or missing. The owner was arrested after weeks in hiding on charges of culpable homicide, unauthorised operation and overloading.’

Visit

Shipping  Minister Shajahan Khan visited the spot in the evening. BIWTA chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker, Dhaka Range police deputy inspector general ASM Mahfuzul Haque, River police deputy inspector general Md. Moniruzzaman, Manikganj deputy commissioner Rashida Ferdous, superintendent of police Bidhan Tripura, Rajbari deputy commissioner Rafiqul Islam Khn n ASP Taptun Nasrin were present at the programme.

Control Room

Manikganj and Rajbari district commissions have opened two control rooms at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry terminals to assist the families of the victims. At Daulatdia control room, which is under the supervision of Rajbari magistrate Md. Kawsar, one can get information on passengers of the sunken ferry. The control room can be reached through phone at 01718 830895.

Financial support

Manikganj district administration has declared to give financial supports to the family of the deceased. Families will get Tk 20,000 for the funeral of the each of the victims. Besides Shipping Minister has declared to hand over Tk 1.05 lakh to families of each of the deceased persons.

Investigation committees

Two investigation bodies were formed so far to probe into the accident. Shipping Ministry has formed a 5-member committee, led by BIWTA chairman Shamsuddoha Khandaker, in this regard and asked the body to submit its report with seven days.

The Mercantile Marine Department under the Shipping Ministry on Sunday formed another three-member committee to investigate the incident of ferry capsize on the River Padma on Sunday.

The committee members are servitor of department Captain Shajahan (convener), special officer (marine safety) Mainuddin Hasan and chief inspector M Shafiqur Rahman.

The ferry, Motorised Vehicle Mostafa, sank at about 11:30am after it was hit by fertiliser-laden cargo vessel, Nargis-1, while it was heading towards Daulatdia ferry terminal from Paturia terminal.

The probe body was asked to submit its report to the director general of the Mercantile Marine Department within next 15 working days.