At Least 26 Dead in Passenger Boat Accident in Central Bangladesh

Passenger ship sinks after collision with sand carrier

A passenger ferry operating on the Buriganga River in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. This image is not related to the article content. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] A ship collision accident occurred in central Bangladesh, resulting in more than 26 deaths.

According to major foreign media on the 3rd (local time), in the morning, a passenger ship carrying more than 30 passengers collided with a sand carrier near Shibcharshi in central Bangladesh on the Padma River. It was confirmed that more than 26 passengers on the passenger ship drowned and died in the accident.

Miraz Hossain, the local police chief, stated, "We rescued 5 people and recovered 26 bodies."

Fire authorities and others are conducting search operations at the site, considering the possibility that several more people are missing.

In Bangladesh, where about 230 large and small rivers are concentrated, ships are used as a major means of transportation. However, large-scale accidents often occur due to inadequate compliance with safety regulations.

Previously, in February 2015, a ship overloaded with passengers collided with a cargo ship and sank in central Bangladesh, resulting in 78 deaths.

In June last year, more than 30 people died when a passenger ship capsized on the Buriganga River in the capital Dhaka, and on the 4th of last month, about 30 people lost their lives when a passenger ship overturned on the Shitalakkhia River in Narayanganj, a city south of Dhaka.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.