Probe body inspects Daulatdia ferry site after Padma bus tragedy

A six-member investigation team formed by the shipping ministry visited Daulatdia 3 No. Ferry Ghat in Rajbari today (29 March), five days after a passenger bus sank in the Padma River.

Headed by Additional Secretary, Md Muhidul Islam of the ministry, the team arrived at the Daulatdia ghat around 10:30am on a speedboat from the Paturia ghat.

During his visit, the head of the team, Muhidul Islam described the incident as 'extremely tragic' and vowed that measures will be taken to prevent such accidents in the future.

He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

A detailed report would be submitted within the scheduled time frame, he said.

The probe body also inspected key areas related to the accident, including the location where the bus sank, pontoon stability, the vehicle loading approach road, and the so-called 'zero point' of the ferry terminal.

Officials responsible for vehicle control at zero point were also interviewed and communication systems between the ghat and other terminals were checked.

Later, the investigation team closely examined the accident-affected bus of Souhardo Paribahan, which remains at the terminal and visited the Goalanda area to hear accounts from eyewitnesses.

Officials from BIWTC, BIWTA, local district and upazila administrations, Fire Service, Navy, and Coast Guard were present during the inspection.

Goalanda Upazila UNO Sathi Das and Faridpur Range SP Abdullah Al Mamun were present there.

The bus, operated by Souhardo Paribahan, had departed from Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia on 25 March.

The bus lost control and sank into the Padma River while attempting to board the ferry at Daulatdia 3 No. Ghat.

So far, 26 bodies have been recovered and handed over to the victims' families.

The district administration has provided Tk25,000 financial assistance to each affected family.