A passenger bus that plunged into the Padma River at Daulatdia in Rajbari has been recovered, with fire service personnel pulling out bodies one after another late Wednesday night. The bus, which had sunk earlier in the evening, was lifted from the river around 11:30 p.m. According to the Fire Service, twelve bodies have been recovered so far, including three men, six women, and three children. Rescue workers also found school bags, shoes, and other belongings floating from the damaged vehicle, while three ambulances were kept ready to assist the operation.

Witnesses and relatives gathered at the riverbank searching for missing family members. One man said his friend’s sister and her husband were on the bus and remain missing. Another person reported that his wife, daughter, and niece survived by swimming ashore, but his young son and nephew are still unaccounted for. A grandfather waited in tears for news of his two grandchildren.

According to the ferry terminal supervisor, the bus carrying about 50 passengers was waiting for a ferry when a small utility ferry named “Hasna Hena” struck the pontoon, causing the bus to lose control and fall into the river.