Highlights
- A passenger bus carrying more than 40 people fell into the Padma River at Daulatdia ghat in Rajbari.
- Several casualties are feared, while only a few passengers managed to swim to safety.
- Survivor Abdul Azizul lost his wife and child in the accident and broke down in grief on the riverbank.
- Divers from multiple fire service units have been sent to the scene to begin rescue operations.
The accident occurred on Wednesday (25 March) around 5:15 PM at Daulatdia Ghat when a passenger bus of Souhardo Paribahan lost control while boarding a ferry from pontoon number 3 and fell into the Padma River. Witnesses said the bus was traveling from Kushtia to Dhaka and had more than 40 passengers on board.
Survivor Loses Wife and Child
One of the passengers, Abdul Azizul, managed to swim to safety but lost his wife and young son in the river. Sitting on the riverbank, he cried uncontrollably while recalling his last conversation with them. He said,
“কত করে কইলাম তোমরা বাড়ি থাকো, আমি যাই; আমার ডিউটি আছে। বউ কইল না তুমি একলা একলা যাইবা। আমার ভালো লাগে না। এখন আমারে ছাইরা কেমনে একলা রাইখা চইলা গেলা। আমি এখন কী করমু।”
Translation: “I told them so many times to stay home and let me go alone because I had duty. But my wife said she wouldn’t let me go alone. Now how could you leave me alone like this? What will I do now?”
Family Was Sitting Together When Bus Fell
Azizul said he was sitting with his wife and their son Abdullah when the bus suddenly overturned while climbing onto the ferry and fell into the river. He somehow managed to swim ashore, but his family could not escape.
“স্ত্রী ও সন্তানকে নিয়ে কুষ্টিয়া থেকে বাসে করে ঢাকায় ফিরছিলেন… হঠাৎ বাসটি ফেরিতে ওঠার সময় উল্টে নদীতে পড়ে যায়। আমি সাঁতরে কোনো রকম তীরে উঠে আসি।”
Translation: “We were returning to Dhaka from Kushtia by bus with my wife and child… Suddenly the bus overturned while boarding the ferry and fell into the river. I somehow swam to the shore.”
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Rescue Operation Underway
According to Fire Service official Dewan Sohel Rana, the bus lost control while getting onto the ferry and fell into the river at Daulatdia Ghat. Diver teams from Paturia and Aricha ghats, as well as additional teams from Dhaka headquarters, have been deployed to start the rescue operation. Authorities fear that the number of casualties may rise as the bus remains trapped underwater near the pontoon, making rescue work difficult.
Source: Somoy TV
