A private car has plunged into the Shitalakshya River while attempting to board a ferry at Nabiganj ghat in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj, in an incident that briefly disrupted operations at the busy river crossing on Thursday evening (16 April). The driver managed to escape unharmed, and the vehicle was later recovered after an intensive rescue operation involving firefighters and local boatmen.
The accident occurred at approximately 5:15pm at the Nabiganj ferry terminal, a heavily used transit point where vehicles are routinely loaded onto ferries under congested and fast-moving conditions.
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Sudden loss of control during boarding
According to eyewitnesses and police accounts, a white private car bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-Gha-17-3224 was in the process of boarding a ferry when the incident took place. At the same time, multiple other vehicles were also being directed onto the vessel, contributing to a crowded and high-pressure loading environment.
Witnesses said the vehicle suddenly lost control as it approached the ferry ramp. It reportedly struck and broke through a rope barrier at the front before sliding off the edge and falling into the river.
The car remained partially afloat for several minutes after entering the water, creating a brief window in which rescue attempts were made from nearby boats.
The driver, Zakir Hossain, was able to escape by opening a window and swimming to safety. He was assisted by local boatmen who quickly responded to the scene.
Emergency response and recovery effort
Personnel from Hajiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence later arrived at the location and launched a coordinated recovery operation. Senior Station Officer Nurul Alam Dulal confirmed that firefighters, working alongside local volunteers and boat operators, succeeded in retrieving the submerged vehicle after nearly an hour of effort.
He noted that although immediate attempts were made by nearby boatmen to tow the car towards the riverbank, the vehicle sank completely within minutes of the accident.
Accounts from driver and vehicle owner
The driver attributed the incident to a mechanical fault, claiming that the braking system failed while he was manoeuvring onto the ferry ramp.
“The brakes stopped working as I was trying to get onto the ferry, and I lost control,” Zakir Hossain said following the incident.
The vehicle owner, Nur Mohammad Rudra—chairman of a garment manufacturing company—confirmed that he was not inside the car at the time of the accident.
“I had already got down before the vehicle started boarding,” he said. “It has now been recovered and sent to a workshop for inspection and repairs.”
Incident overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Nabiganj Ferry Ghat, Bandar, Narayanganj |
| Date & Time | 16 April, around 5:15pm |
| Vehicle | Private car (Dhaka Metro-Gha-17-3224) |
| Incident | Fell into Shitalakshya River during ferry boarding |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Driver status | Rescued safely |
| Recovery | Vehicle retrieved after approximately one hour |
Ferry safety concerns resurface
The incident has once again drawn attention to safety conditions at river ferry terminals across Bangladesh, where congestion, limited infrastructure, and high vehicle turnover often create hazardous loading environments.
Observers note that weak physical barriers, insufficient marshaling systems, and inconsistent vehicle checks can significantly increase the risk of accidents during ferry boarding and unloading operations.
Although no casualties were reported in this case, the episode is likely to renew calls for improved safety protocols, stricter vehicle handling procedures, and upgraded infrastructure at busy ferry ghats such as Nabiganj to prevent similar incidents in the future.