Bus Plunges into Padma River in Bangladesh, Killing at Least 18 as Rescue Operations Continue
Vehicle carrying Dhaka-bound passengers sank to 30-foot depth while boarding ferry at Goalanda terminal; death toll expected to rise
DHAKA — March 26, 2026 — At least 18 people have died after a passenger bus plunged into the Padma River while boarding a ferry at the Goalanda terminal in central Bangladesh on Wednesday evening, authorities confirmed, as rescue divers continue to search for more victims .
The deadly accident occurred around 5:20 pm on Wednesday, March 25, when a Dhaka-bound bus operated by Sauhardya Paribahan lost control while boarding a ferry at the No. 3 terminal in Goalanda, Rajbari district, and fell into the river, according to Fire Service officials . The vehicle sank to a depth of approximately 30 feet shortly after plunging into the water .
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The bus was traveling from Kumarkhali in Kushtia to the capital Dhaka, carrying passengers returning home after the week-long Eid-ul-Fitr holiday celebrations. According to Monir Hossain, a ticket checker for Sauhardya Paribahan at the ferry ghat, the 40-seat bus was fully occupied at the time of the incident .
Rescue Efforts and Recovery
Emergency response teams from Fire Service and Civil Defence have been working tirelessly since Wednesday evening. Rescue personnel, including a diving unit from Aricha and additional units from Dhaka and Faridpur, have been deployed to the scene . The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is assisting with the operation using the rescue vessel “Hamza” .
By early Thursday, fire service teams had recovered 16 bodies from the submerged bus. According to Shajahan Sikder, officer-in-charge of the Fire Service and Civil Defence media cell, the recovered victims included 10 women, four men, and two children . Two additional bodies—identified as Rehana, 60, and Morzina, 55—were declared dead at Goalanda Upazila Health Complex, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to 18 .
According to eyewitnesses and surviving passengers, approximately five to seven people managed to escape from the bus immediately after the accident . A survivor named Kalam Hossain told reporters: “I was in the bus. I got out and was standing on the pontoon. Shortly after, in the blink of an eye, the bus with passengers sank into the river… All the seats were occupied. Although four to five passengers managed to get out and were rescued, the others sank” .
Ongoing Search for Missing Passengers
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers on board at the time of the accident. While the bus had a capacity of 40 seats, officials say it was fully occupied. Rescuers fear more bodies may be trapped inside the submerged vehicle.
State Minister for Shipping Md Rajib Ahsan, who was supervising operations at the scene, confirmed that rescue teams would continue working overnight, with a wider search planned during daylight hours . The joint rescue operation involves BIWTA, fire service, coast guard, army personnel, and local administration .
Government Response and Investigation
Rajbari Deputy Commissioner Sultana Akhter told reporters at the scene that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called to inquire about the incident and directed that necessary measures be taken quickly .
The government has formed two probe committees to investigate the cause of the accident. A committee headed by the additional district magistrate of Rajbari will submit its report within three to four working days, while a five-member committee led by Shipping Ministry Additional Secretary Mohidul Islam will submit its findings within three working days .
The district administration is providing initial financial assistance of Tk 25,000 for each victim’s burial. Relatives of the missing have been urged to contact the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office or the district commissioner’s office .
Context of Holiday Travel Dangers
The Goalanda ferry terminal accident occurred during one of Bangladesh’s most congested travel periods. Millions of residents were returning to Dhaka following the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, when roads and waterways across the country become heavily crowded .
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According to preliminary data from the Road Safety Foundation, at least 204 people have been killed and more than 600 injured in 264 road accidents during the eight-day Eid travel period from March 17 to March 24 . The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samiti (BJKS) reported even higher figures, stating that 216 people were killed and 421 injured in 201 road accidents as of Tuesday afternoon .
The alarming figures highlight persistent safety vulnerabilities during mass migration periods, with officials pointing to deficient traffic management, inadequate enforcement mechanisms, and insufficient road safety awareness as contributing factors .
Recent Accidents Across Bangladesh
The Goalanda ferry tragedy follows a series of deadly transport accidents during the Eid holiday period. On Sunday, March 22, at least 12 people were killed and 26 injured in a bus-train collision in the southeastern Comilla district . A passenger bus was crushed by the Chittagong Mail train, with victims including seven men, three women, and two children .
In separate incidents across the country, motorcycle accidents have accounted for a significant portion of the holiday road fatalities. The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samiti reported that 178 of the deaths occurred in motorcycle accidents, while 315 people were injured in battery-powered auto-rickshaw accidents .
Investigation and Call for Safety Reform
BJKS Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury attributed the rising accident toll to “technical faults, poor road and vehicle management, and weak law enforcement.” He called for adoption of technologies used in developed countries to reduce accidents and stressed the need to “curb risky practices and ensure proper enforcement” .
As rescue operations continue at the Goalanda terminal, authorities warn that the death toll from the Padma River accident may rise further in the coming hours.
SOURCES / INPUTS
1 Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha: Bus tragedy in Goalanda: 18 bodies recovered
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