Three Killed in Dhaleshwari River Ferry Tragedy

A tragic ferry accident on the Dhaleshwari River in Narayanganj has claimed the lives of three individuals, casting a pall of grief and shock over the local community. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 20 December, at approximately 2:00 am, when a ferry carrying multiple vehicles capsized in the middle of the river.

According to Additional Police Superintendent (C Circle) Md. Hasinuzzaman, rescue divers from the River Police promptly launched an operation. They recovered the bodies of two victims, while a third succumbed to injuries after being transferred to a hospital for urgent medical care.

The deceased have been identified as Masud Rana, 30, a resident of Gopalnagar in the Baktaboli Union and a returnee from Singapore; Mohammad Rafik, 35, a motorbike rider; and Swadhin, 25, a van driver. Masud Rana had returned from Singapore only a month prior and had planned to return abroad soon after completing a driver training programme in Narayanganj city.

Police sources revealed that the ferry departed from Baktaboli in Fatulla around 9:00 pm on Friday night. Onboard were a truck, a motorcycle, two battery-operated auto-rickshaws, and a van. At a point midstream, the ferry capsized, plunging all the vehicles into the river. While the truck driver managed to swim to safety, three passengers went missing immediately.

Rafik was quickly rescued and admitted to Narayanganj General Hospital. He was later transferred to a private hospital in Signboard for advanced treatment but, unfortunately, did not survive. After more than four hours of painstaking recovery efforts, River Police divers retrieved the bodies of Masud Rana and Swadhin. Reports indicate that Masud’s body bore multiple injuries and was trapped against the ferry’s railing.

The tragedy has left families and local residents both devastated and fearful. Concerns have been raised about ferry safety measures and the lack of adequate supervision for vehicles and passengers. The police have launched a full investigation into the incident. Local authorities and the victims’ families have expressed profound grief, with renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent future maritime accidents on the Dhaleshwari River.