At least 13 people were killed today while many remained missing in two similar incidents of boat capsize in which passenger boats were hit by sand-laden vessels in Bangladesh, in the latest ferry-related tragedy.
Hours after a sand-laden vessel collided with a boat carrying over 70 people in Meghna river and killed five persons, including a child, a fresh mishap occurred in the Buriganga river, claiming at least eight lives so far.
"We have retrieved eight bodies from the Buriganga and (are) looking for more," a private TV channel quoted a police officer as saying.
The fresh incident of capsize came as a sand-laden vessel collided with a motor launch carrying some 80 passengers to Dhaka from central Chandpur district.
"We have been searching for more bodies though most of the remaining passengers were rescued alive after the collision this afternoon," a fire service spokesman said.
The latest ferry-related tragedy came less than 24 hours after an overnight boat capsize in the central Munshiganj district in which at least 10 people remained missing.
"Searches are underway as 10 to 12 people are still feared missing," a police official at the scene earlier told a TV channel as fire service divers and locals continued to look for bodies in the vicinity.
Rescuers retrieved five bodies from Meghna river, of which two were pulled out of the water by fishermen in the area who were using their fishing nets.
Initial reports said the boat capsized as it was hit by the vessel last night when the river was turbulent due to stormy weather in the region.
Survivors said the boat was carrying some 70 passengers to an annual Muslim spiritual festival called 'Lengtar Mela' and most of them managed to swim ashore or were rescued by nearby boats.
Witnesses said the bodies retrieved so far included that of a four-year-old girl. She was accompanying her father, who survived to bear the agony.
"I lost the grip on her as the boat was hit... I survived but my daughter died," said the wailing mid-aged father as the girl's body was retrieved.
Another youth, in his mid-twenties, was found flattened between the two vessels after the incident, The Daily Star reported.
The sand-laden vessel has been seized though its operator fled the scene.
Ferry disasters are common in Bangladesh due to poor safety standards.
On February 13, at least five persons, including a minor, were killed when an overloaded ferry carrying 200 passengers, mostly devotees, capsized in the Paira river.
Last August, another ferry sank in a river in Bangladesh, killing about 130 people.
