Manikganj, Jan, 17: A ferry on Daulatdia- Paturia route capsized in the Padma due to water seeping in through a hole, not because it was hit by any bulk carrier, survivors of the accident in Paturia said.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials and some witnesses initially said the ferry, Rajanigandha, capsized after being hit by a bulk carrier this morning.
As salvage operations continue for the utility ferry that sank near the Paturia terminal in Manikganj, the focus is gradually shifting towards the cause of the incident.
Authorities said that the BIWTC-operated Rajanigandha-7 capsized on Wednesday after a collision with a small cargo ship amid dense fog in the Padma River.
However, survivors offered differing accounts. They say the vessel had been taking in water since dawn before eventually sinking.
"The ferry wasn hit by any cargo ship. Instead, water started seeping in from below, causing the ferry to sink," said Nazmul Islam, a truck owner who was on the vessel.
According to the shipping ministry, the vessel left the Daulatdia terminal for Paturia with nine trucks on board around 1 am but was stranded in mid-river due to heavy fog. The ferry resumed its journey in the morning but was met with the accident before it could dock at the jetty.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury also attributed the capsize to a collision with a cargo vessel. However, Nazmul refuted the official narrative, saying water began leaking in around 4 am and the ferry started sinking by morning.
Kushtia native Nazmul, who was transporting goods to Chandpur, added that nearby boats, including a trawler, came to the rescue of those on the sinking ferry.
After it overturned, a part of the ferry was seen floating upside down for a while before it completely submerged. Sunken ferry was aking in water since dawn, say survivors
Divers rescued six people from the scene, and there are no reports of casualties, according to Talha Bin Jasim, an official from the Fire Service Central Media Cell. However, the ferrys second driver, 39-year-old Humayun Kabir, remains missing.
Shahidul Islam, a truck worker who survived the incident, accused the ferry staff of negligence. "The ferry sank about 200 metres from the wharf due to rising water from below. The crew didn inform the terminal authorities or anyone else. They are now claiming it sank after colliding with a cargo ship."
Jahangir Alam, a spokesman for the Ministry of Shipping, added that two BIWTA rescue vessels have been dispatched to the scene to retrieve the submerged ferry.
Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporations (BIWTCs) Aricha regional office Shah Md Khaled Newaz said they initially heard that the ferry sank after being hit by a bulk carrier.
"We formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident. The actual cause of the capsize can be determined after the investigation is completed," he said after being asked about the survivors versions.
