Private Car Falls Into River While Boarding Ferry in Narayanganj

A private car plunged into the Shitalakshya River after losing control while attempting to board a ferry at the Nabiganj ghat in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj on Thursday evening (16 April). Both the driver and the vehicle were later rescued following a coordinated effort by firefighters and local boatmen.

The incident occurred at around 5:15pm at the busy Nabiganj ferry terminal, a key river crossing point in the district where multiple vehicles are routinely loaded onto ferries under tight operating conditions.

Moment of accident at busy ferry ghat

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a white private car bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-Gha-17-3224 was in the process of boarding a ferry when the incident took place. At the same time, other vehicles were also being guided onto the vessel, creating a congested and pressurised loading environment.

Witnesses said the car suddenly lost control as it approached the ferry ramp, breaking through a rope barrier at the front of the vessel before plunging into the river. The vehicle reportedly remained afloat for several minutes after the fall.

The driver, identified as Zakir Hossain, managed to escape by opening a window and swimming to safety with the assistance of local boatmen who rushed to the scene.

Rescue operation and recovery

Hajiganj Fire Service officials later arrived at the site and launched a recovery operation. Senior Station Officer Nurul Alam Dulal confirmed that firefighters, working alongside local volunteers and boat operators, managed to retrieve the submerged vehicle after nearly an hour of effort.

He added that the car had fully sunk within minutes of the incident, despite initial attempts by nearby boatmen to pull it towards the riverbank.

Statements from driver and owner

Driver Zakir Hossain attributed the accident to a mechanical failure, stating that the vehicle’s braking system malfunctioned as he was attempting to board the ferry.

“The brakes failed while I was trying to get onto the ferry, and I lost control of the vehicle,” he said.

The owner of the vehicle, Nur Mohammad Rudra, chairman of a garment manufacturing company, confirmed that he was not inside the car at the time of the incident.

“I had already disembarked before the vehicle was being loaded onto the ferry,” he said. “The car has since been recovered and sent to a workshop for inspection and repair.”

Incident summary

Safety concerns at ferry terminals

The incident has once again highlighted safety risks at busy river ferry terminals in Bangladesh, where vehicles often queue in confined spaces under time pressure and limited infrastructure support.

Experts and local observers have long pointed out that overcrowding, weak barrier systems, and inadequate vehicle safety checks can increase the risk of accidents during loading and unloading operations.

Although no fatalities were reported in this incident, authorities are expected to review safety procedures at the Nabiganj ferry ghat to prevent similar occurrences in the future.