A search operation remains underway in the Bhairab River following a midnight collision between a passenger-laden trawler and a ferry in the Jelkhana Ghat area of Khulna. The incident, which occurred at approximately 9:45 pm on Tuesday between Jelkhana Ghat and Senerbazar Ghat, left one young man missing while 30 to 40 other passengers managed to reach safety.
The missing individual has been identified as 27-year-old Rakib Khan, a resident of Senerbazar and a professional make-up artist. According to his family, Rakib had left his home for Khulna city on Tuesday evening. His mother, Roksena Begum, stated that he spent the night with friends near Modern Mor before being dropped off at the Commerce College intersection, after which all contact was lost. Friends and relatives spent the night searching local medical centres and major hospitals across Khulna without success.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trawler departed Jelkhana Ghat carrying dozens of commuters towards Senerbazar Ghat when it collided head-on in mid-river with a ferry heading towards Khulna city. Although the ferry captain immediately cut the engine upon impact, the force of the collision sank the wooden trawler. Nearby vessel operators and local residents rushed to rescue victims from the water. While some passengers swam ashore, others were pulled to safety by passing boats.
Emergency response teams, including the Coast Guard, River Police, and the Fire Service and Civil Defences, launched a coordinated rescue effort shortly after the crash. Masud Sardar, Deputy Director of Khulna Fire Service and Civil Defence, noted that strong river currents severely hindered initial efforts to locate or salvage the submerged vessel. Abul Khair, the officer-in-charge of the Rupsha River Police Outpost, confirmed that search patrols are actively sweeping the waterway to locate the missing passenger.
The accident has drawn sharp criticism from local residents regarding maritime safety standards at Jelkhana Ghat. Citizens frequently complain about chaotic boarding management and systemic overcrowding on passenger trawlers plying the Bhairab River. Despite recurring accidents along these busy river routes, regulatory enforcement remains lax, leaving commuters exposed to hazards during peak travel hours. Rescue operations continue as authorities attempt to track down the missing youth and clear the navigational channel.
