DHAKA, 7 May — The death toll from a ferry accident in southeastern Bangladesh three days ago reached 340 yesterday as rescuers recovered more decomposed bodies from the salvaged vessel and in remote parts of Meghna River.
Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain said the figure could even be higher. It was not clear how many were aboard the MV Salahuddin-2 when it capsized amid a storm on the mighty Meghna on Thursday night.
Most Bangladeshi ferries do not maintain passenger lists or even issue tickets.
Hossain said it seemed there were nearly 400 people on board the ferry when it sank off Satnal, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) southeast of Dhaka, while at least 92 swam to safety or were rescued.
Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of the Inland Water Transport Authority, described the incident as one of the worst in the country’s navigation history.
