At least 100 people are missing so far, with 17 injured
A massive fire swept through a river ferry in southern Bangladesh early Friday, leaving at least 37 dead and 72 injured, as passengers jumped off the vessel and swam to the shore, officials said.
The blaze broke out around 3 am on the MV Avijan-10 off the coast of Jhalokati district on the Sugandha River.
The United News of Bangladesh news agency quoted fire officer Kamal Uddin as saying the ferry was carrying 800 passengers from Dhaka, the capital, to Barguna, nearly 250 kilometres (155 miles) to the south.
ALSO READ:
Fire officer Fazlul Haque said rescuers have so far recovered 37 bodies and rescued 72 injured passengers. He said the rescue mission is ongoing and the casualties are likely to go up.
There was no word on what caused the fire.
Ferry accidents are common and are often blamed on overcrowding and lax rules in Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by about 130 rivers. Ferries are a leading means of transportation, especially in the southern and northeastern regions.
In April, 25 people died after a ferry collided with another vessel and capsized outside Dhaka.
At least 100 people are missing so far, with 17 injured
A composite security system was set up in and around the Red Fort
The Prime Minister recalled the contribution of the freedom fighters and emphasised on the role of the women in the country's freedom struggle
Chinese embassy says the visit proves that the US does not want to see stability across the Taiwan Straits
He died on Sunday after an illness
Seeing the zeal and patriotic fervour among young and old, the embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires beamed with pride
Grocery store employee killed as tricolour's iron flagpole came into contact with electricity