At least 44 dead in Bangladesh ferry accident

By Serajul Islam Quadir

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.