Daulatdia Bus Retrieved After River Plunge

A passenger coach that plunged into the Padma River at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat in Rajbari was successfully recovered approximately two and a half hours after the accident, with authorities confirming that all passengers had disembarked before the vehicle entered the water, preventing what could have been a major tragedy.

The incident occurred at around 9:40 a.m. on Friday when a bus belonging to SB Super Deluxe was attempting to board a ferry at Daulatdia. According to officials, the vehicle lost control, smashed through the ferry ramp and fell into the river. Rescue operations began immediately, and the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) deployed its salvage vessel Hamza to recover the submerged coach.

At about noon, the rescue team succeeded in lifting the bus from the river and placing it onto the K-type ferry Karabi stationed at the ghat. The bus driver and his assistant were rescued shortly after the accident and admitted to hospital for treatment. No passengers were on board at the time of the plunge, as they had been instructed to leave the vehicle before it boarded the ferry.

Key Details of the Incident

The bus driver, Jhontu Ali, 48, who is receiving treatment at Goalanda Upazila Health Complex, said he had departed from Madanpur in Kushtia at around 7:15 a.m. with 37 passengers bound for Dhaka. Including the driver and helper, nearly 40 people were travelling on the vehicle.

He explained that after passengers had been ordered to disembark, he started driving the bus towards the ferry. According to his account, the vehicle’s brakes failed, causing it to accelerate uncontrollably and crash into the ramp of the ferry Karabi. The impact broke the structure and sent the bus into the Padma River. He and his assistant managed to escape through a window before local residents helped transport them to hospital.

Passenger Abdus Salam, a teacher at Noor Mohammad Public College under Border Guard Bangladesh headquarters, said ferry authorities and naval police repeatedly instructed travellers to leave the bus before boarding. Although some passengers initially hesitated, police ensured everyone disembarked. Moments later, the bus crashed into the river.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) stated that loudspeaker announcements had been made urging passengers to get off the vehicle before ferry loading commenced. Police personnel subsequently assisted in clearing the bus.

Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Afroza Parvin praised the safety measures taken before the ferry crossing, noting that the passengers’ removal had undoubtedly prevented a potentially devastating loss of life. She announced that a five-to-seven-member investigation committee would be formed to determine the precise cause of the accident. The committee’s findings will guide any further administrative or legal action.

The district administration has also begun arrangements to return passengers’ belongings recovered from the bus. Authorities said items would be handed back to their rightful owners upon verification of ownership.

The accident inevitably revived memories of a deadly incident at Daulatdia on 25 March, when a bus arriving from Kushtia lost control while attempting to board a ferry at Ghat No. 3 and plunged into the Padma River, claiming the lives of 26 passengers. Friday’s incident, however, ended without fatalities due to the strict enforcement of passenger disembarkation procedures and the swift response of ferry officials, police and rescue teams.