At least 44 dead in Bangladesh ferry accident

DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh authorities abandoned recovery operations on Tuesday following a ferry accident which saw at least 44 people confirmed dead.

The ferry capsized with nearly 150 passengers on board on Monday, after it was caught in a storm in the Ghorautura river, nearly 180 kms (113 miles) from Dhaka.

Only 25 passengers managed to swim to safety, a police official said.

"We have abandoned the salvage efforts as the rescuers felt it too difficult to recover the ferry from the depths of the river," said Sultan Ahmed, a senior administrative official of Kishoreganj district.

Earlier in the day, rescue vessels of the state-run Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority rushed to the spot where the ferry capsized but strong currents in the river hampered their efforts.

Fire fighters, police and volunteers had also tried to help, local newspaper reporters reported.

Salvage operators said apart from the 44 bodies which were recovered, more bodies were trapped inside the vessel, which was overloaded and had its windows shut during the sudden storm on Monday afternoon.

But Sultan told Reuters that rescuers and divers from the inland water transport authority searched for bodies inside the ferry "meticulously" and did not find any.

Rescuers said the ferry sank about 50 feet, making it difficult to pull the single-deck vessel above the water and close to the shore.

"With the news of abandonment, relatives of victims broke down in tears as they now find it impossible even to get the dead bodies of their nearest and dearest ones," a local media reporter at the scene told Reuters.

A red flag was hoisted on a buoy on the spot where the ferry sank to prevent further accidents, an official said.

Ferry accidents occur frequently in riverine Bangladesh and hundreds of people die every year.

Poor enforcement of safety laws means boats are often badly serviced and generally packed well beyond capacity.

(Editing by Valerie Lee)