Empty bus plunges into Padma River at Daulatdia ferry terminal; no casualties reported

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A passenger bus plunged into the Padma River at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari on Friday after suffering a mechanical failure while attempting to board a ferry. Authorities successfully salvaged the vehicle approximately two and a half hours after the incident using a Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) rescue vessel.

The SB Super Deluxe bus, which had traveled from Kushtia, arrived at the terminal around 9:40 a.m. According to witnesses and transit officials, the bus experienced a brake failure as it approached the “Korobi” ferry, causing it to crash through the ramp and slide into the river.

Miraculously, no fatalities or injuries were reported among passengers, as transit officials and local police had insisted that everyone disembark the vehicle before it attempted to board the ferry. The driver, Jhontu Ali, and his assistant managed to escape the submerged bus through the windows before being rescued by locals and transported to the Goalando Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

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Passengers expressed relief and credited the proactive measures taken by authorities for their survival. Abdus Salam, a teacher traveling on the bus, described how police personnel forced passengers to exit the vehicle just moments before the accident. Officials noted that the swift enforcement of safety protocols prevented a tragedy reminiscent of a similar incident on March 25, when a bus plunged into the river at the same terminal, resulting in 26 deaths.

The district administration has announced the formation of a five-to-seven-member committee to investigate the exact cause of the mechanical failure. District Administrator Afroza Parveen confirmed that the committee will submit a formal report to determine if further legal or administrative action is required. Additionally, the district administration has initiated a process to return personal belongings recovered from the bus to the passengers upon verification of ownership.