Rescue operations have been temporarily suspended following a passenger bus plunging into the Padma River at Daulatdia 3 No ferry ghat in Goalanda, Rajbari, officials from the Fire Service said.
Approximately six passengers are still missing.
After hours of intensive efforts, the teams paused the search for a short period, citing concerns that some bodies may have been carried away by the river current. Rescue teams confirmed that patrolling and monitoring of the river will continue to track any drifting victims.
So far, 26 bodies have been recovered from the river. Eight passengers were rescued alive, though two women later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Approximately six passengers remain missing.
The bus had around 40 passengers on board at the time of the accident.
Among the survivors, three were men and five were women. The recovered bodies include six men, 11 women, and five children, comprising four boys and one girl. Of the total 26 deaths, 23 bodies were recovered by the Fire Service, two were retrieved by locals and later confirmed dead in hospital, and one body was recovered by Navy divers. Efforts to locate the remaining six missing passengers are ongoing.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers of ferry crossings in the region, with local authorities urging caution and continuous vigilance along the river.
