Rajbari, Jun 07 (V7N) – Naval Police have filed a case over the sinking of a passenger bus into the river after it broke through a ferry ramp at Daulatdia Ferry Ghat No. 7 in Goalanda, Rajbari. Three people, including the bus driver, helper and supervisor, have been arrested and sent to court in connection with the incident.

The accused were produced before a court on Saturday afternoon after being arrested following the accident.

According to police, Sub-Inspector Abuzar Gifari of the Daulatdia Naval Police Outpost filed the case on Friday night with Goalanda Ghat Police Station. In addition to the driver, helper and supervisor, several unidentified officials of the transport management authority have also been named as accused.

The arrested individuals were identified as driver Jhantu Ali, 48, helper Shakib Hossain, 22, and supervisor Ajmal Hossain, 38.

Police said the passenger bus belonging to SB Super Deluxe Paribahan departed from Gangni in Meherpur for Gabtoli in Dhaka on Friday morning carrying approximately 38 passengers. The vehicle arrived at Daulatdia Ferry Terminal No. 7 around 9:30 am.

While boarding a ferry under the supervision of authorities, the bus reportedly lost control, accelerated unexpectedly, broke through a ramp on the opposite side of the ferry and plunged into the river.

The helper managed to escape moments before the vehicle entered the water, while the driver became trapped inside the bus and was later rescued.

Following the incident, a large-scale rescue operation was launched involving the district administration, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army personnel, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Fire Service, Coast Guard and Naval Police.

After nearly two hours of effort, the sunken bus was recovered from the river around noon with the assistance of BIWTA's rescue vessel "Hamza" and a team of divers.

Authorities subsequently returned passengers' belongings and removed the damaged vehicle using a wrecker. Ferry operations and traffic movement at the terminal resumed normally after the ferry was cleared from the ghat area at approximately 3:30 pm.

Later on Friday, State Minister for Shipping Md. Rajib Ahsan and other senior officials visited the scene to assess the situation.

Separate investigation committees have since been formed by the Ministry of Shipping and the district administration to determine the cause of the accident and identify any negligence.

Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam of Goalanda Ghat Police Station confirmed that the three accused had been arrested and sent to court in connection with the case.

The investigations are expected to examine operational procedures, safety measures and potential lapses that may have contributed to the accident.

END/SMA/AJ