3 die as bulk carrier rams, sinks waterbus
A teenage boy was among the three people killed after a sand-laden bulk carrier rammed a waterbus, causing the latter to sink in the Buriganga in the capital's Keraniganj around 8:15pm yesterday.
The waterbus with 60 people was approaching its destination in Telghat when the incident happened, said Sub-Inspector Rezaul Karim of Sadarghat River Police Station.
Two of the three deceased were identified as Md Fahim, 22, of Joypara of Dhaka's Dohar upazila and Md Ali, 14, of Chunkuthia of Keraniganj.
Fahim worked for a firm and Ali worked at a clothes shop.
When firefighters brought them to Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, doctors declared them dead, hospital sources said.
At least three others were also admitted to the hospital.
Fire service rescued eight people unconscious, said Rafi Al Faruk, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters.
Most of the passengers swam ashore as the vessel sank near the shore, locals said.
One of the survivors is Samiya, 17, who does not know how to swim.
"I felt a hand pull my leg up when I was drowning. Then I suddenly found myself floating. I stayed afloat by holding onto a seat or something until the firemen came and rescued me," she told reporters.
She chose the waterbus over dinghies because she thought it was safer.
The student, who foots her school fees by providing private tuition, was returning home after buying pre-owned college books from Banglabazar.
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