POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 17, 2024 : ‘Pratya’ is coming to join the rescue work after the rescue ship ‘Hamza’ in the incident of sinking of ferry ‘Rajnigandha’ in Padma near Paturia ghat of Daulatdia-Paturia route.
On Wednesday (January 17) around 2 pm, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Mustafa Kamal, confirmed the matter.
Meanwhile, the rescue ship ‘Hamza’ recovered a covered van from about one and a half kilometers away from the scene of ferry sinking at around 3:30 pm.
The senior secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Mustafa Kamal, said that till now the assistant driver of the ferry is missing in the incident of the ferry sinking. Rescue ship Hamza has already started operations. The fire service, navy and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) divers have gone into the water to rescue the truck that was on the ferry and swept away by the current. The rescue work will continue under the leadership of BIWTA chairman. Now the ship ‘Pratya’ is coming to join the rescue work.
Senior Secretary Mustafa Kamal also said that two separate committees have been formed from the district administration and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to investigate the incident.
According to the related sources, on Tuesday (January 16) around 1:00 p.m., ferry Rajnigandha left for Paturia with 9 trucks from Ghat No. 7 of Daulatdia. However, due to thick fog, Paturia was unable to reach the ghat and got stuck in the Padma river near ghat number 5. The ferry sank around 8:30 am.
