Authorities have formed two separate committees to investigate the incident after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River while attempting to board a ferry at Daulatdia ghat in Rajbari on Friday.
The incident narrowly averted a major tragedy, as all 37 passengers escaped unharmed. However, the bus driver and helper were injured.
Officials later formed two inquiry committees-one by the Ministry of Shipping and another by the district administration-to determine the cause of the accident.
State Minister for Shipping Md Razib Ahsan, who visited the site around 4pm, confirmed the developments while speaking to journalists.
He said the Ministry of Shipping has formed a high-level inquiry committee headed by Joint Secretary Mohammad Rafiqul Karim, with officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) included. A separate seven-member committee has also been formed by the Rajbari district administration.
According to local and administrative sources, the bus of SB Paribahan from Kushtia reached Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 7 around 9:30am.
The bus was scheduled to board the ferry “Jahangir.”
However, it lost control and struck the ramp of another ferry, breaking the structure and plunging into the Padma River, where it sank.
Immediately after the incident, local administration, naval police, the Coast Guard, and divers from BIWTA launched a rescue operation.
The rescue vessel “Hamza” later joined the operation and helped recover the submerged bus.
The driver and helper were rescued in injured condition and taken to hospital, where doctors said they are out of danger.
The state minister said, “We have narrowly avoided a major tragedy today. By the grace of Almighty, the 37 passengers had already disembarked from the bus following our instructions.”
He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had been monitoring the situation and remained in contact with authorities during the rescue operation.
Recalling earlier directives, he said passengers must be disembarked before buses board or leave ferries.
“Strict compliance with this rule helped save 37 lives today,” he added.
He further said that BIWTA, BIWTC, naval police, and district administration teams are working round the clock to ensure safe and smooth Eid travel ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Officials from BIWTA, BIWTC, district administration, police, and naval police were present during the visit.
