At least 30 die in ferry accident in Bangladesh

At least 30 people died and a dozen were missing after a ferry capsized and sank in Dhaka following a collision with another vessel, rescue officials said.

The Morning Bird vessel was hit from behind by another ferry at around 9.30am local time yesterday during the morning rush hour, when the country’s largest river port is packed with vessels.

“We have collected 30 bodies, including 20 males, seven women and three children,” said Abul Khair, a diver in the fire brigade.

“There were at least 50 people on board ... our rescue divers are still searching,” said coastguard spokesperson commander Hayet Ibne Siddique.

The ferry – which departed from central Munshiganj district – sank as it was about to moor at Sadarghat, Dhaka’s main river port used by hundreds of boats to travel to the country’s south.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority’s chief, Commodore Golam Sadeqk said the single-deck ship was “not overcrowded” and sank “due to carelessness”.

He said the vessel had been cleared to carry passengers until September.

Witnesses told local television stations many passengers appeared to be stuck in the ferry’s cabins.

Divers were pulling bodies from the wreck, in waters some 12-15m deep.

Relatives gathered at Sadarghat despite coronavirus social distancing concerns to search for their loved ones.

“I still don’t know what happened to them,” a man searching for his cousin and another relative told reporters. — AFP