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| People gather around a retrieved body at the site of a ferry accident in Munshiganj district, Bangladesh, Feb. 8, 2013. Rescuers retrieved two bodies after an overcrowded ferry carrying about 100 passengers capsized Friday morning in a river in Bangladesh's southern Munshiganj district, some 27 km southeast of capital Dhaka, with dozens of people missing, officials said. (Xinhua/Shariful Islam) |
DHAKA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 passengers were drowned in the ferry accident Friday on the Meghna river in southern Munshiganj district, some 27 km southeast of capital Dhaka, police said Saturday.
Police chief of Munshiganj district Habibur Rahman told Xinhua by cell phone that the ferry ML Sarash was lifted by salvage ship Hamza in the early hours Saturday and the rescuers picked up ten more bodies from inside the ferry, raising the death toll to 12.
The victims included five men, two women and five children, he said, adding that there were still some missing people but he could not give the exact figure.
The ferry carrying about 100 passengers was going to Matlab of southeastern Chandpur district from Narayang river port town, 16 km east of Dhaka, when the accident occurred at around 7 a.m. local time Friday.
Ferry and boat disasters are common in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 250 rivers. Ferry is still a key means of transport in the country. Most of them are often overcrowded.
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