Ro-ro ferry Amanat Shah, carrying more than 20 heavy and light vehicles and some passengers, has capsized in the Padma River at the Paturia ferry terminal in Manikganj.
The incident took place around 9:45am Wednesday after the vessel docked at terminal No 5, officials said.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Deputy General Manager (Aricha) Md Zillur Rahman told Dhaka Tribune that the ferry, which was carrying trucks, covered vans and motorcycles, sank right after a few vehicles unloaded.
However, no casualties have yet been reported.
According to Md Selim Hossain, who managed to drive his covered van off the ferry right before the incident, only three vehicles had managed to get off before the vessel tilted on its side and sank.
Master Shafiqul Islam of ro-ro ferry Shah Amanat, built in the 1980s, said the vessel was faulty and had undergone heavy servicing just four months back.
However, recently a hole was discovered at the bottom of the ferry and when it started from Daulatdia on Wednesday morning with 17 heavy vehicles and at least 16 motorcycles, water started entering the vessel.
Shafiqul said by the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
The ferry was on its way to Aricha from Rajbari’s Daulatdia ghat when it sank at Paturia. Most of the passengers had managed to swim ashore at the time.
Emergency responders soon reached the spot and started the search and rescue operation.
Local fire service officials said two of their diving units were working at the moment and two more teams from Dhaka were on the way.
Meanwhile, salvage vessel Hamza is already on site and has joined the rescue efforts. However, officials are unsure whether the 60-ton-capacity salvage vessel will be able to bring up the nearly 400 ton capsized ferry.
Another salvage ship is already on its way to help Hamza, said officials.
