The waterbus, which capsized after being rammed by a sand-laden bulk carrier in the Buriganga near Telghat area of Keraniganj, was pulled out of the river Monday morning.
A rescue ship named MV Rustom lifted the waterbus from the river around 7:50 am, said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director (operations and maintenance) of Fire Service and Civil Defence.
The accident claimed the lives of three people- two men, and a minor boy but their identities could not be known yet.
Eight people were rescued from the river and admitted to the hospital, with three of them undergoing treatment in unconscious condition while the rest were released after receiving treatment.
The waterbus sank around 8:15 pm on Sunday after the waterbus carrying around 100 passengers was hit by a sand-laden bulkhead.
On information, three firefighting units from Sadarghat and Siddik Bazar fire stations rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations. Moreover, divers from the Coast Guard joined the fire service workers to accelerate the rescue operation.
As it capsized close to the river bank, most passengers managed to swim ashore.
UNB’s Keraniganj correspondent adds: The waterbus was heading towards Keraniganj’s Nagarmahal from Waizghat for its last trip of the day.
Dakshin Keraniganj police station’s OC Mohammad Shah Zaman said they believe most passengers managed to swim ashore.