Passenger bus plunges into Padma river in Bangladesh, over 20 dead

By Obinna Ejianya (9News Nigeria – Melbourne, Australia)

A devastating transport accident in Bangladesh has claimed more than 20 lives after a passenger bus carrying dozens of commuters plunged into the Padma River at the busy Daulatdia Ghat ferry terminal in Rajbari.

9News Nigeria gathered that the tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening as the bus attempted to board a ferry en route to Dhaka. Authorities said the vehicle, believed to be carrying between 40 and 50 passengers, suddenly fell into the river after a ferry reportedly struck the loading dock during boarding operations.

Emergency responders, including divers from the fire service, navy personnel, and police units, launched a large-scale rescue effort that lasted several hours. A recovery vessel later lifted the submerged bus—reportedly lying nearly 30 feet underwater—after more than six hours of intensive operations.

A report from India TV said officials confirmed that at least 23 bodies had been recovered as of late Wednesday night, including several women and children. About 11 passengers were rescued or managed to swim ashore, while others were initially reported missing.

Witnesses said the bus had picked up additional passengers from multiple roadside counters along its route, raising concerns that the vehicle may have been overcrowded at the time of the accident. Emotional scenes unfolded along the riverbank as relatives gathered at the terminal awaiting news of their loved ones.

Speaking to journalists, Police Inspector Russel Mollah confirmed that rescue efforts slowed overnight due to poor visibility but would continue at daylight.

“We have recovered 23 bodies so far. Some passengers survived, but others may still be missing. Rescue operations are ongoing and will fully resume in daylight,” he said.

District authorities also disclosed that Tarique Rahman contacted local officials to obtain updates on the situation and directed that a formal investigation be launched into the cause of the accident.

Preliminary reports suggest that several victims belonged to the same family, with some relatives surviving because they were standing outside the vehicle at the time it slipped into the river.

The Daulatdia terminal is one of Bangladesh’s busiest river crossings, frequently handling heavy passenger and vehicle traffic, raising fresh concerns about ferry safety procedures following the tragedy.