Relatives mourn a victim of ferry accident in Bangladesh (Photo: Shahadat Hossain)
At least 125 people were missing and presumed dead Tuesday after an overloaded ferry with more than 200 passengers capsized on Monday while crossing a river in central Bangladesh.
The ferry MV Pinak-6 sank in the Padma River in Munshiganj district, about 44 kms from Dhaka.
Rescuers managed to save about 100 people following the sinking in rough waters and strong currents.
Only two bodies were recovered as of Tuesday morning.
Local media reported the ferry was carrying 250 passengers but officials at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) could not confirm the figure as ferry operators in Bangladesh rarely keep passenger lists.
“The ferry was allowed 85 people but was carrying at least three times that number,” said Abdus Salam, administrative director at Fire Service and Civil Defense department.
“It tilted over and sank as it reached middle of the river when strong currents hit and panicking people started moving from one side to the other,” he said.
Rescuers failed to locate the position of the sunken ferry until Tuesday morning due to bad weather.
Thousands of anxious relatives gathered on the riverbank soon after the accident. Aminul Islam, 32 said his elder brother Hafizul and his family were on the doomed ferry.
