Dozens Drown as Holiday Passenger Bus Plunges into Padma River at Bangladesh Ferry Terminal

At least 24 people drown after a passenger bus falls off a ferry pontoon in Bangladesh. Rescuers struggle with rain and currents to recover trapped victims.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 7:26 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Asharq Al Awsat

A Lethal Miscalculation at the Daulatdia Terminal

A routine transit operation turned into a mass casualty event on Wednesday afternoon when a Dhaka-bound passenger bus veered off a pontoon and sank into the Padma River. The vehicle, operated by Souhardo Paribahan, was attempting to board a transport ferry at the Daulatdia terminal in Rajbari district, approximately 84 kilometers from the capital. Eyewitnesses and terminal supervisors reported that the bus appeared to lose control after a smaller utility vessel struck the pontoon with significant force, causing the driver to lose steering stability. Within seconds, the bus nosedived into the water, rapidly submerging to a depth of nearly 30 feet as bystanders watched from the shore.

The Toll of the Post-Holiday Transit Rush

The timing of the accident coincided with the massive surge of internal migration following the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr. The bus had originated from the southwestern district of Kushtia and was reportedly carrying between 40 and 50 passengers, many of whom were families traveling together to return to work. According to Fire Service official Talha Bin Zasim, the confirmed death toll reached 24 by Thursday morning, with the deceased including at least 11 women and five children. While approximately 11 passengers managed to swim to safety or were pulled from the water by locals using ropes and life-saving tubes, dozens remained trapped inside as the vehicle settled on the riverbed.

Adverse Weather Hinders Recovery Efforts

The rescue operation, involving a coordinated effort between the fire service, navy, coast guard, and army, faced significant environmental challenges. Heavy rainfall and aggressive river currents complicated the work of specialist divers throughout Wednesday night. The salvage vessel Hamza eventually arrived at the scene and, after a grueling six-hour operation, managed to lift the submerged bus to the surface around midnight. Emergency workers discovered the majority of the victims trapped within the mangled remains of the vehicle, which had sustained heavy damage to its doors and windows during the plunge.