Staff Correspondent

Strict compliance with the Ministry of Shipping's mandatory safety directive—which requires all passenger buses and vehicles to disembark passengers before boarding ferries—prevented a major tragedy on Friday at Daulatdia ferry ghat when a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River. Thanks to the safety protocol, no lives were lost.

According to official sources, a Dhaka-bound passenger bus of 'SB Paribahan' originating from Kushtia lost control at about 9:30 AM on Friday while boarding the ferry Kabori at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 7. The vehicle broke through the ferry's opposite ramp and plummeted directly into the Padma River. Because the crew had strictly followed safety regulations and ordered all passengers off the bus prior to ferry embarkation, a catastrophic loss of life was averted.

A well-coordinated rescue operation was initiated immediately following the crash. The driver and the supervisor (assistant) of the bus were rescued alive from the sinking vehicle and are currently undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority's (BIWTA) specialized salvage vessel Hamza rushed to the spot and successfully pulled the sunken bus out of the river. The emergency recovery operation was jointly executed by teams from the Ministry of Shipping, BIWTA, BIWTC, Naval Police, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bangladesh Coast Guard, local administration, and law enforcement agencies. The Honorable Minister and State Minister of the Ministry of Shipping closely monitored the salvage operation from the central command and issued necessary directives to ensure site safety.

In light of the incident, authorities have strongly urged all transport operators and commuters to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures at ferry terminals.