A week after the tragic capsizing near Paturia Ghat in Manikganj, the Rajnigandha ferry has seen progress in its salvage operation. The rescue ship Pratyay successfully lifted a portion of the ferry from its submerged position, marking a significant step forward in the recovery efforts.
Out of the nine trucks that were on board the ferry when it capsized, seven have also been successfully retrieved. The body of the ferry’s second engine master, who went missing during the incident, was found on Monday in the Bahadurpur area of Harirampur, approximately 13 kilometers from the accident site. The deceased was laid to rest in Mativangga, located in Pirojpur’s Bhandaria.
SM Azgar Ali, Joint Director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in the Aricha region, confirmed these developments. BIWTC Deputy General Manager Shah Mohammad Khaled Newaz provided insight into the ongoing rescue operations, stating, “The rescue operation began immediately after the accident with the involvement of the rescue ship Hamza. Subsequently, the ship Rustam joined from Mawa, contributing to the recovery of the submerged trucks. Pratyay, another ship that joined the operation on Friday, successfully lifted a section of the Rajnigandha ferry.”
To investigate the incident, two separate committees were formed by the district administration and the BIWTC. Deputy Commissioner Rehena Akhtar mentioned, “A five-member committee, led by Additional District Magistrate Sanjida Jesmin, has been constituted by the district administration. They have been instructed to submit a comprehensive report within the next seven working days.” Additionally, BIWTC Chairman Matiur Rahman stated, “We have formed a five-member committee to investigate this accident, and they have also been directed to submit their findings within the next seven working days.”
The ferry capsized on January 17 on the Daulatdia-Paturia route in the middle of the Padma River in Paturia of Manikganj, leading to the initiation of extensive recovery and investigative efforts.
