Death toll rises to 18 as rescue operations continue

At least 18 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus fell into the Padma River at a ferry terminal in Goalanda, with rescue operations continuing amid concerns that the death toll could rise.

The incident took place on Wednesday evening when a Dhaka-bound bus travelling from Kumarkhali in Kushtia lost control while boarding a ferry and plunged into the river. Officials said the vehicle sank rapidly to a depth of around 30 feet.

Emergency responders have so far recovered 18 bodies from the water. Fire Service personnel retrieved the majority, while local residents recovered additional victims from the river.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with multiple units from the fire service and civil defence deployed at the scene, including specialised diving teams brought in from several districts. Authorities have also used a rescue vessel operated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority to lift the submerged bus.

Witnesses and survivors reported that a small number of passengers managed to escape shortly after the vehicle entered the water. However, officials have not yet confirmed how many people were on board at the time of the accident, leaving uncertainty over the total number of casualties.

Authorities said further details, including the cause of the crash, would be determined following the completion of rescue operations.

Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Sultana Akhter said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had sought updates on the situation and instructed officials to take swift action.

Plans are under way to form a high-level investigation committee involving representatives from the district administration, inland water transport authorities and law enforcement agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns over transport safety at ferry terminals, particularly during peak travel periods, as Bangladesh continues to rely heavily on river crossings as a key part of its transport network.