A newly married couple, Kazi Saif Ahmed Soumya (30) and Dr Fatematuz Johura Anti (27), were among the victims of a catastrophic passenger bus disaster at Daulatdia ghat in Goalanda upazila of Rajbari, where a bus plunged into a river, leaving behind widespread devastation and mourning.
The incident has been described as particularly tragic given that the couple had been married for only three and a half months. Their untimely deaths have plunged their families and local community into deep grief, as both were regarded as promising young professionals with bright futures ahead.
Their joint funeral prayer was held on Thursday afternoon at approximately 2:30pm at the Shaheed Khushi Railway Ground in Rajbari town, where hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final respects. Following the funeral, the couple were buried side by side at the New Market cemetery under Rajbari municipality, a poignant reflection of their brief but closely shared married life.
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Promising Lives Cut Short
Soumya hailed from Sajjankandi village in Ward No. 5 of Rajbari municipality and was the son of Kazi Mukul. He was employed as a senior merchandiser at a private company located in Gulshan, Dhaka, and was known within his circle as a hardworking and dedicated professional.
His wife, Anti, was the daughter of the late Dr Abdul Alim from the same locality. She was completing her medical internship at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, having already established herself as a committed young doctor in training.
Family members stated that the couple were married on 12 December last year and had been living in Uttara, Dhaka. They had travelled to their ancestral home for the Eid holidays and were originally expected to remain in the village until 29 March. However, they left earlier than planned in order to attend a colleague’s wedding ceremony in the capital.
Sequence of the Accident
On Wednesday afternoon, the couple boarded a “Souhardya Paribahan” passenger bus from the Boro Pul area. The vehicle later reached Daulatdia Ferry Terminal No. 3, one of the busiest river crossing points in the country, where it was waiting on the pontoon to board a ferry.
It was during this period of waiting that the bus reportedly lost control and plunged into the Padma River from the terminal structure. The sudden fall left passengers trapped inside the submerged vehicle as rescue operations were urgently launched.
After several hours of intensive efforts, the wreckage was recovered using the salvage vessel Hamza. Subsequently, Fire Service diving teams retrieved the bodies of Soumya and Anti from within the submerged bus.
Casualties and Recovery Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Daulatdia Ferry Terminal, Goalanda, Rajbari |
| Victims | Newlywed couple among deceased passengers |
| Transport operator | Souhardya Paribahan |
| Rescue operation vessel | Salvage ship Hamza |
| Recovery duration | Approximately 7 hours |
| Total bodies recovered | 26, including driver Arman |
Mourning in the Community
The deaths of the young couple have triggered an outpouring of grief in their home district. Relatives, neighbours and acquaintances described the pair as gentle, ambitious and deeply attached to their families.
Soumya’s paternal uncle, Kazi Golam Ahmed, expressed profound sorrow, stating that he had raised both his nephew and niece-in-law as his own children. He said the loss was unbearable for the family and appealed to the public to pray for the departed souls.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
Authorities have not yet completed their investigation into the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary observations suggest the possibility of mechanical failure or loss of control while the bus was stationary on the ferry pontoon, although officials have not confirmed any definitive cause.
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to longstanding safety concerns at Daulatdia ferry terminal, a critical transport hub handling heavy volumes of passenger and commercial traffic between southern and northern Bangladesh.
Officials have assured that a full inquiry will be conducted into the incident, as questions continue to mount over safety standards and operational oversight at one of the country’s most congested river crossings.
As investigations proceed, the incident remains a stark reminder of the risks associated with riverine transport infrastructure and the devastating human cost when accidents occur.