Newlywed Couple Die in Ferry Tragedy

A newly married couple, Kazi Saif Ahmed Soumya (30) and Dr Fatematuz Johura Anti (27), were among the victims of a devastating passenger bus disaster at Daulatdia ghat in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari, where a bus plunged into a river, leaving a trail of grief across the locality.

The tragedy has been particularly heartbreaking as the couple had been married for just three and a half months before their lives were cut short. Their deaths have cast a deep shadow of mourning over their families and community, where they were both well known and respected.

Their joint funeral prayer was held on Thursday at around 2:30pm at the Shaheed Khushi Railway Ground in Rajbari town. Following the ceremony, they were laid to rest side by side at the New Market cemetery under Rajbari municipality, symbolising the togetherness that defined their short married life.

Educated Young Couple Lost in Tragedy

Soumya was the son of Kazi Mukul of Sajjankandi village in Ward No. 5 of Rajbari municipality. He worked as a senior merchandiser for a private company based in Gulshan, Dhaka. His wife, Anti, was the daughter of the late Dr Abdul Alim from the same locality and was serving as an intern doctor at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

According to family sources, the couple married on 12 December last year and had been residing in Uttara, Dhaka. They had returned to their village home for the Eid holidays and were scheduled to stay until 29 March. However, they decided to return to Dhaka earlier than planned to attend a colleague’s wedding ceremony.

How the Accident Occurred

On Wednesday afternoon, the couple boarded a “Souhardya Paribahan” bus from the Boro Pul area. The vehicle later arrived at Daulatdia Ferry Terminal No. 3, where it was waiting to board a ferry when it reportedly lost control and fell into the river from the pontoon.

Rescue operations continued for several hours before the submerged bus was lifted from the water using the salvage vessel Hamza. Fire Service divers subsequently recovered the bodies of Soumya and Anti from inside the sunken vehicle.

Casualties and Recovery Operation

Family Grief and Community Mourning

The couple’s death has sparked widespread grief in their hometown. Soumya’s paternal uncle, Kazi Golam Ahmed, expressed deep sorrow, saying he had raised his nephew and niece-in-law like his own children and was struggling to accept the tragedy.

He appealed for prayers for the deceased and described the loss as an unbearable personal blow for the family.

Investigation and Safety Concerns

Authorities have not yet completed their investigation into why the bus lost control while waiting at the ferry pontoon. Preliminary reports suggest a possible failure in vehicle control mechanisms or driver error, though officials have not confirmed any cause.

The incident has once again raised serious concerns about safety standards at busy ferry terminals, particularly at Daulatdia, one of the country’s most congested river crossing points, where hundreds of vehicles pass daily between southern and northern regions.

Officials have pledged a full inquiry into the incident as rescue and recovery efforts conclude, while the tragedy continues to resonate deeply across the region.