A passenger bus fell into the Padma River at the Daulatdia ferry terminal in Rajbari district on Tuesday evening, killing at least 23 people, including 11 women, eight children, and four men, according to the Daily Star.
The bus, operated by Souhardo Paribahan and headed to Dhaka from Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia, was waiting to board a ferry when a small ferry struck the pontoon with force at around 5:15 pm local time. The impact knocked the bus off balance. The current pulled it nearly 30 feet to the bottom of the river.
The bus was carrying an estimated 40 to 50 passengers at the time. Eleven to twelve of them swam to safety or were pulled out by rescue teams. Officials fear others may still be missing.
Four fire service units, ten divers, the army, police, coast guard, and local authorities worked the scene. It took six hours and several rescue vessels including one named Hamza, per Prothom Alo to recover the bus from the riverbed.
🚨 BREAKING: Tragedy in Bangladesh! A Souhardo Paribahan bus with ~50 passengers plunged 30ft into Padma River at Daulatdia Ghat (Rajbari) while boarding ferry on Mar 25 eve. 18 dead (incl kids, women), 35+ missing; bus recovered after 6hrs rescue op w/ divers & MV Hamza. 😢… pic.twitter.com/KvwYeRTziB
— RB. (@rahul4bisht) March 26, 2026
Video circulating online shows passengers screaming as the bus tips and goes under.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered an investigation into the incident, the Rajbari District administration confirmed. The death toll has not been officially finalised.
Ferry crossings are common across Bangladesh due to the limited number of bridges. Many of the vessels in operation are old and poorly maintained, and accidents at ferry terminals are not rare.
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