The Rajnigandha ferry, which capsized near Paturia Ghat in Manikganj, has been partially retrieved after seven days. The rescue ship Pratyay succeeded in lifting a part of the ferry.
Seven of the nine trucks that capsized with the ferry have also been recovered.
The body of the ferry's second engine master, who went missing after the ferry capsized, was recovered on Monday from the Bahadurpur area of Harirampur, about 13km away from the spot.
He was buried in his village, Mativangga in Pirojpur's Bhandaria.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) (Aricha region) Joint Director SM Azgar Ali confirmed the incident.
BIWTC Deputy General Manager (Aricha region) Shah Mohammad Khaled Newaz said: “The rescue operation started on the day of the accident with the rescue ship Hamza. The next day, another ship Rustam joined the operation from Mawa. Both ships worked to recover trucks from the ferry. By Tuesday, they rescued seven trucks. Pratyay, another ship that joined the operation on Friday, lifted part of the Rajnigandha ferry.”
Two separate investigation committees were formed by the district administration and the BIWTC in this incident.
Deputy Commissioner Rehena Akhtar said: “A five-member committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate Sanjida Jesmin, was formed on behalf of the district administration. They asked to submit a report within the next seven working days.”
Additionally, BIWTC Chairman Matiur Rahman said: “We have formed a five-member committee to investigate this accident. They asked to submit a report within the next seven working days.”
On January 17, the ferry with nine trucks aboard capsized on the Daulatdia-Paturia route in the middle of the Padma River in Paturia of Manikganj.
