Case filed over bus plunge into Padma

A case has been filed with Goalunda Ghat Police Station in Rajbari over the incident in which a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River from a pontoon at the Daulatdia Ferry Terminal on Friday morning.

Abuzar Gifari, Sub-Inspector of Daulatdia River Police Station, filed the case last night (5 June).

The accused include bus driver Md Jhantu Ali, 48, of Alampur in Kushtia Sadar upazila; supervisor Md Ajmal Hossain, 38, of Sugribpur in Kushtia; and helper Shakib Hossain, 22, also from Alampur. Unidentified officials of SB Super Deluxe (Non-AC) Paribahan, the bus operator (registration number Dhaka Metro-B-15-5649), were also named in the case.

According to the complaint, the accident caused damage to ferry infrastructure and passengers' belongings estimated at around Tk3 lakh.

It said that the members of the Daulatdia River Police Outpost were on duty at the terminal on Friday morning when the Dhaka-bound SB Super Deluxe bus, travelling from Gangni in Meherpur, arrived at the ferry ghat.

Another bus plunges into Padma River from pontoon at Daulatdia, no casualties reported

Following government directives, officials from the River Police and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) instructed the driver to disembark all passengers before boarding the ferry. Around 37 to 40 passengers got off the bus and proceeded on foot toward the ferry.

The complaint alleges that driver Jhantu Ali then started the bus and drove it recklessly. Instead of boarding the designated ferry, Bir Shrestha Jahangir, he reportedly crossed the pontoon and entered another ferry, Karbi Oxfam. The bus then struck the ramp at speed, snapping its chain and safety belt before plunging into the Padma River.

River Police said the bus supervisor and helper managed to jump onto the ferry before the vehicle fell into the river. The driver swam to the pontoon and was rescued by police personnel and locals before being taken to Goalundo Upazila Health Complex.

The sunken bus was salvaged at around 11:55 am with assistance from the rescue vessel Hamza. It was later seized and taken into River Police custody. The vehicle sustained extensive damage, including twisted bodywork and broken glass.

The complaint also states that the ramp, cable and chain of the Karbi Oxfam ferry were damaged. In addition, passengers reportedly lost or damaged luggage and personal belongings in the incident.

Md Shafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Goalandaghat Police Station said the three named accused were arrested and sent to court on Saturday.

River Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Goaland Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sathi Das said belongings recovered after the accident had been verified and returned to their owners.

Earlier, the incident occurred at about 9:25 am on Friday in the Daulatdia ferry ghat area.