4th day rescue operation concludes with no developments

Rescue operations continued for the fourth consecutive day after a bus plunged into the Padma River, but no additional bodies were recovered, officials said.

The operation resumed at around 8:30 AM on Saturday, with personnel from Fire Service and Civil Defence, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard taking part. 

Efforts were briefly disrupted due to adverse weather conditions.

At around 10:00 AM, a pontoon at the ferry terminal was removed using a crane and tugboat operated by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), allowing rescuers to conduct a thorough search underneath. However, no bodies were found.

Later, members of two separate investigation committees inspected the accident site, including the submerged bus and surrounding ferry terminal areas. 

They also surveyed nearby locations by speedboat but found no new evidence or missing persons.

Goalanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sathi Das said the last reported missing individual, a worker named Ripon, has been found in Dhaka and confirmed his safety through a video call with his family. 

The UNO added that there are currently no missing persons and no further claims have been made.

The probe committee, led by Uchen May, said all aspects of the incident are being examined, and a report will be submitted within three working days.

The accident occurred on March 25 when a Souhardo Paribahan bus lost control while boarding a ferry at Daulatdia ferry terminal and fell into the Padma River at around 5:15 PM. So far, 26 bodies have been recovered.

Passengers and locals have raised concerns about safety conditions at the ferry terminal, noting that many pontoons have railings only 8 to 10 inches high, which increases the risk of accidents. 

They said higher railings and improved approach roads could help prevent such incidents.

Despite four days having passed, authorities have not officially concluded the rescue operation. 

The exact number of passengers on board remains unclear. 

Officials said efforts are ongoing, including public announcements and outreach through social media to identify any remaining concerns.

SI/SH