UNB, Rajbari:: A total of 26 bodies have been recovered following the sinking of the Souhardo Transport bus in the Padma River at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat in Goalanda, Rajbari. The Fire Service temporarily suspended recovery operations on Thursday evening.
According to the District Commissioner’s Office, each bereaved family will receive BDT 25,000 as compensation, confirmed Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Md. Hafizur Rahman.
An investigation committee was formed on Wednesday midnight by the Additional District Magistrate Uchen Me, following the bus accident. The five-member committee includes Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime & OPS) Md. Shamsul Haque, Assistant General Manager of BIWTC Daulatdia Office Md. Salah Uddin, Deputy Assistant Director of Rajbari Fire Service and Civil Defence Dewan Sohel Rana, and Goalanda Upazila Executive Officer Sathi Das.
On Thursday, BIWTC Chairman Md. Salim Ullah, State Minister for Cultural Affairs and MP of Rajbari-1 Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyum visited the ferry ghat and assured a proper investigation, while also promising measures to repair the dilapidated ghat.
Monir Hossain, supervisor of Souhardo Transport at the Daulatdia Ghat, alleged mismanagement in ferry operations, saying inexperienced third-grade BIWTC staff often direct multiple Dhaka-bound vehicles onto the ghat simultaneously, creating dangerous congestion on the pontoon ramp.
Eyewitnesses said the bus was waiting for another ferry when a small ferry arrived, causing the bus to hit the pontoon at 25–30 km/h. The driver lost control, and the bus sank into the river.
Victims include former Rajbari municipality secretary Ismail Hossain Khan’s wife, retired health worker Rehena Akter (61), and three others. A family of five—Nusrat Jahan Khan, her husband Ahnaf Tahmid Khan, mother Rehena Akter, elder sister Israt Jahan Khan, and her child Tajbid—were also involved. While Nusrat and Rehena were rescued, the others could not be saved.
Another couple, Kazi Saif Ahmed Soumya (30) and his wife, medical student Zahura Anti (27), were buried together at Rajbari’s New Bazar cemetery after a joint funeral at Shahid Khushi Railway Field.
The recovery operation involved BIWTC’s rescue ship Hamza, its divers, and divers from Manikganj and Faridpur Fire Service. Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Dewan Sohel Rana said no further missing persons have been reported, but operations will resume immediately if any are identified.
Md. Hafizur Rahman of the District Commissioner’s Office confirmed that 26 bodies have been handed over to families, no missing persons have been reported, and initial assessment suggests a technical fault in the bus may have contributed to the accident. The investigation committee will determine the exact cause.
