Published 21 Mar 2022 14:40 by
The Maritime Executive
Eight bodies were recovered from the recent ferry accident in Bangladesh, in which a cargo ship ran down a small river ferry about 12 miles from the capital Dhaka. Officials say they believe at least four people are still missing, while admitting they were unsure how many people were on board the full ferry. The captain and seven crew members of the cargo ship were arrested during the investigation.
Spectators watched in horror as the cargo ship was called Ruposhi-9 in the beginning the ferry was towed by people across the river. The small ferry, called ML Asraf Uddin, was carried anywhere between 30 and 50 or even 60 people. The ferry was operating in an industrial area known as Al Aminnagar when it was caught on the bulbous bow of the larger cargo ship.
First images of the accident show that the ferry is being pushed along the river, while people are heard screaming before the ferry starts to capsize and people are thrown into the river. Firefighters and civil defense responded on the scene and later reported that about 15 to 20 people were able to swim to safety. A rescue boat from the Bangladeshi Inland Water and Transport Authority also scoured the river while three divers searched the area.
Marine police have reported that they found the cargo ship shortly after the accident, which happened on Sunday, March 20 at around 2.30pm. a court that ordered her to stay seven days while the investigation runs.
On Monday, the water transport authority also reported that they had recovered the ferry that sank in the river. No additional bodies were found on the ferry, but authorities took action to suspend the ferry service during the investigation.
“Lack of skills between launchers, uncertainty, small size of ships are some of the many reasons for the suspension of launch movements on this route,” said Masud Kamal, Joint Director of BIWTA Narayanganj Riverport.
Ferries remain a common means of transport in Bangladesh despite a poor safety record. Authorities estimate that in the last 30 years, 550 ferry accidents on Bangladesh’s waterways have killed at least 3,600 people and more than 500 additional people have been reported missing. In December 2021, at least 49 people were killed and many more injured when a fire broke out on a ferry operating in a far southern region of the country. Another ferry collision in August 2021 claimed 21 lives, while in April 2021 27 were killed in a ferry collision.
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