Narayanganj, Dec 21 (V7N) — Five vehicles, including a truck, fell into the Dhaleshwari River while crossing from a ferry in Fatulla, Narayanganj on Saturday night, leaving one person unaccounted for. The incident occurred around 9:30 pm near Bektabali Ghat on the river.

Inspector Rokibuzzaman, in charge of the Bektabali River Police Outpost, confirmed the accident. According to local eyewitness Riazul Islam, the ferry carrying passengers and several vehicles departed from the eastern ghat of Bektabali. When it reached the mid-river area, the driver of a truck accidentally started the vehicle, causing it to lose control and push other vehicles into the river.

Riazul Islam added that along with the truck, a motorcycle, two battery-operated auto-rickshaws, and a van were sequentially swept off the ferry into the river. The truck driver managed to swim to safety, but the driver of the auto-rickshaw van, identified as Swadhin, 25, remains missing.

Inspector Rokibuzzaman said preliminary investigations suggest the accident occurred due to negligence regarding the secure positioning of vehicles on the ferry and keeping engines switched off. He confirmed that search and rescue operations are ongoing, and further measures will be taken as necessary.

Abdullah Al Arefin, Deputy Assistant Director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defense, said the truck lost control on the ferry and collided with other vehicles, causing them to fall into the river. Due to the late hour, a full-scale recovery operation could not be conducted immediately, but rescue efforts will resume at full capacity in the morning to locate the missing person.

Authorities have urged ferry operators and passengers to follow strict safety protocols to prevent such incidents, including ensuring vehicles are properly secured and engines remain off during river crossings.

END/MD/SMA/